Sir James Kempt | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Sir James Kempt

Sir James Kempt, soldier, colonial administrator (b at Edinburgh, Scot 1764; d at London, Eng 20 Dec 1854). He attained the ranks of lieutenant (1784), captain (1794) and major (1803) in the British army.

Kempt, Sir James

Sir James Kempt, soldier, colonial administrator (b at Edinburgh, Scot 1764; d at London, Eng 20 Dec 1854). He attained the ranks of lieutenant (1784), captain (1794) and major (1803) in the British army. He saw active service during the Napoleonic Wars in the Mediterranean, the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel and served as quartermaster general of British North America 1807-11, as lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia 1820-28 and as administrator of the Government of Canada 1828-30. Although seen as little more than a caretaker administration, Kempt's short term in Canada temporarily eased the tensions that had arisen between Governor DALHOUSIE and the Parti patriote led by Louis-Joseph PAPINEAU.