Reuben Kemper

1770 (age 57)

Fauquier County, Virginia, United States

An early resident of Cincinnati, Kemper there formed a connection with John Smith, prominent merchant and land speculator, who from 1800 on associated Reuben and his two brothers with himself in a colonization enterprise near Baton Rouge. A controversy having arisen with Smith over their joint accounts, Kemper believed himself wronged both by his partner and by the Spanish authorities, for the latter expelled him and his brothers from their land holdings. Resentful over this treatment and abetted by Daniel Clark and other speculators who had hoped to see West Florida included in the Louisiana transfer, Reuben Kemper was persuaded to strike a blow in behalf of "Floridian Freedom. " On August 7, 1804, supported by a small group of border malcontents, his two brothers, Nathan and Samuel, duly instructed by Reuben from New Orleans, sallied from Mississippi Territory and attempted to surprise and capture Baton Rouge. Foiled in this attempt they straightway retreated into Mississippi, from which point of vantage the three continued to embroil the whole border. In July 1805 Reuben acquired property in the town of Pinckneyville. On the night of September 3, while he was visiting his two brothers, who lived still nearer the border, a masked party seized the turbulent trio and delivered them below the line to a Spanish patrol, "casually" encountered there. In the course of the next day, however, captives and captors were apprehended on the Mississippi, and the Kempers, under bond to keep the peace, returned to their American asylum. The incident, greatly distorted in press and in official report, became an international cause célèbre. Reuben Kemper proceeded to take both legal and personal vengeance on his enemies. One died of disease, contracted while hiding from him; another had his ears cropped after being beaten into insensibility; while two brothers, the chief leaders in seizing Kemper, were forced to meet a judgment of $7, 000 in his favor. In 1810 this irrepressible borderer, under commission from the insurgents at Baton Rouge, attempted to subvert the Spanish government at Mobile and Pensacola. The settlers from the nearby American communities, already exasperated against the Spaniards, afforded him some recruits, and with this dubious crew he sought to compel the surrender of Mobile. Defiantly raising his "lone star" flag on Sunday, November 25, at a suitable bluff rechristened Bunker Hill, he maintained for some weeks a "moving camp" on the east side of Mobile Bay. From this varying point he vainly tried to negotiate with the Spanish commandant. When his force inevitably began to melt away, he transferred it to the other side of the bay and went across the border for more recruits. He was promptly arrested and while the American authorities forcibly detained him, the Spaniards surprised and dispersed the remnant of his irregular levies, killing and wounding a few and taking seven or eight prisoners. Kemper's ill-advised foray simply strengthened the Spanish hold on Mobile. Kemper later figured in land transactions both in Mississippi and Louisiana. Twice he journeyed to Washington in behalf of his captured followers, who were imprisoned at Havana. In 1812-1813, he participated in the Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition into Spanish Texas, fighting to help free Mexico from Spanish rule. He also served as a colonel under Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.

Reuben Kemper

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merchant filibuster

Background

Reuben Kemper was the son of a Baptist clergyman and was probably born in 1770 in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States.

Career

An early resident of Cincinnati, Kemper there formed a connection with John Smith, prominent merchant and land speculator, who from 1800 on associated Reuben and his two brothers with himself in a colonization enterprise near Baton Rouge. A controversy having arisen with Smith over their joint accounts, Kemper believed himself wronged both by his partner and by the Spanish authorities, for the latter expelled him and his brothers from their land holdings. Resentful over this treatment and abetted by Daniel Clark and other speculators who had hoped to see West Florida included in the Louisiana transfer, Reuben Kemper was persuaded to strike a blow in behalf of "Floridian Freedom. "

On August 7, 1804, supported by a small group of border malcontents, his two brothers, Nathan and Samuel, duly instructed by Reuben from New Orleans, sallied from Mississippi Territory and attempted to surprise and capture Baton Rouge. Foiled in this attempt they straightway retreated into Mississippi, from which point of vantage the three continued to embroil the whole border.

In July 1805 Reuben acquired property in the town of Pinckneyville. On the night of September 3, while he was visiting his two brothers, who lived still nearer the border, a masked party seized the turbulent trio and delivered them below the line to a Spanish patrol, "casually" encountered there. In the course of the next day, however, captives and captors were apprehended on the Mississippi, and the Kempers, under bond to keep the peace, returned to their American asylum. The incident, greatly distorted in press and in official report, became an international cause célèbre.

Reuben Kemper proceeded to take both legal and personal vengeance on his enemies. One died of disease, contracted while hiding from him; another had his ears cropped after being beaten into insensibility; while two brothers, the chief leaders in seizing Kemper, were forced to meet a judgment of $7, 000 in his favor. In 1810 this irrepressible borderer, under commission from the insurgents at Baton Rouge, attempted to subvert the Spanish government at Mobile and Pensacola. The settlers from the nearby American communities, already exasperated against the Spaniards, afforded him some recruits, and with this dubious crew he sought to compel the surrender of Mobile. Defiantly raising his "lone star" flag on Sunday, November 25, at a suitable bluff rechristened Bunker Hill, he maintained for some weeks a "moving camp" on the east side of Mobile Bay. From this varying point he vainly tried to negotiate with the Spanish commandant. When his force inevitably began to melt away, he transferred it to the other side of the bay and went across the border for more recruits. He was promptly arrested and while the American authorities forcibly detained him, the Spaniards surprised and dispersed the remnant of his irregular levies, killing and wounding a few and taking seven or eight prisoners. Kemper's ill-advised foray simply strengthened the Spanish hold on Mobile.

Kemper later figured in land transactions both in Mississippi and Louisiana. Twice he journeyed to Washington in behalf of his captured followers, who were imprisoned at Havana. In 1812-1813, he participated in the Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition into Spanish Texas, fighting to help free Mexico from Spanish rule. He also served as a colonel under Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.

Achievements

Reuben Kemper was remembered for his involvement with his brothers in filibustering against the Spanish government in 1800s. He was generally credited with serving in the Gutierrez-Magee expedition into Texas from 1812 to 1813.

Connections

Brother:: Samuel Kemper
Brother:: Nathan Kemper

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Reuben Kemper

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