The Right Reverend James Kemp (1764-1827)
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.