The Right Reverend James Kemp (1764-1827)

Artist/Maker
Schwarz, C. __Engraver ||Freeman, W.H. __Engraver ||Peale, Rembrandt __After
Place Made
Baltimore Maryland United States of America
Date Made
1814
Medium
wove rag paper, ink
Dimensions
HOA: 12 1/5″; WOA: 9 7/10″
Accession Number
3934
Description
Reverend Kemp was the second bishop of the Diocese of Maryland of Episcopal Church. Born in Scotland, Kemp emigrated to Maryland in 1787. Though raised Presbyterian, he joined the Episcopal Church in Maryland and was ordained a priest on December 27, 1789. He served parishes on Maryland’s Eastern Shore until 1813 when he was elected associate rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore.

He was elected a suffragan bishop for the diocese in 1814. This print was probably made at the time of his election. In that role he oversaw parishes on the Eastern Shore. In 1816 he was elected bishop of the Diocese.

Kemp is best known for inviting the African American clergyman William Levington (1793-1836) to his diocese where he established St. James First African American Episcopal Church. St. James was just the third African American Episcopal Church in America.

ENGRAVER: Stauffer’s “American Engravers Upon Copper and Steel” lists just three prints known by C. Schwartz: A portrait of Samuel Johnson dated 1814 in Baltimore, and a print of Bernadotte, Crown Prince of Sweden.

DESCRIPTION: Stipple engraving- half-length portrait of man wearing full white cotta, neck piece and neck-bands. His right hand rests on an open book.