General the Rt Hon Sir James Kempt GCB GCH 1834 - 1846

Sir James Kempt was appointed an Ensign in the 101st Foot on 31st March 1783. From then on he made steady advancement and progress, his appointments including those of Colonel Commandant of the 4th Battalion 60th Foot 1814, Colonel 3rd West India Regiment 1818 and Colonel 40th Foot 1829.

He became Colonel of the 2nd Queen’s on 23rd December 1834. Appointed General on 23rd November 1841, he ceased command of the Queen’s on becoming Colonel of the 1st Foot on 7th August 1846. He had an interesting and active career, accompanying Sir Ralph Abercromby on the expedition to Holland in 1799 as Aide-de-Camp and being present at most actions there. Still with Sir Ralph he accompanied him to the Mediterranean in 1800 and the Egyptian campaign in 1841, serving with Sir Ralph until his death in 1846.

He continued serving in the same situations with Lord Hutchinson and was present at all the battles in Egypt and at the captures of Cairo and Alexandria. With the Army in the Peninsula under the Duke of Wellington in December 1811, he was appointed to command a Brigade in the 3rd Division and was severely wounded in the foot when leading an attack on the castle at Badajoz. He was transferred to a Brigade of the Light Division and served in command until the conclusion of the war in 1814. Taking part in various battles, he was slightly wounded in the arm at Nivelle. When commanding a Division in the Campaign of 1815 he was severely wounded at the Battle of Waterloo.

Gaining many awards in his service, his decorations and appointments included Commander and Knight Commander of the Order of Maria Theresa and the Orders of St George, Anne and Vladimir of Russia for his services in the Netherlands in 1815. He died in London on 20th December 1854.