- John Kemp
Infobox Archbishop of Canterbury
Full name = John Kemp
birth_name = John Kemp
began=unknown
consecration = translated 21 July 1452
term_end = 22 March 1454
predecessor = John Stafford
successor =Thomas Bourchier
birth_date = about 1380
death_date = 22 March 1454
tomb =Canterbury Cathedral John Kemp (c. 1380 – 22 March 1454) was a medieval English cardinal,
archbishop of Canterbury , andLord Chancellor of England.Biography
He was son of Thomas Kemp, a gentleman of
Ollantigh , in the parish of Wye near Ashford,Kent . He was born about 1380 and educated atMerton College, Oxford .He practised as an ecclesiastical lawyer, was an assessor at the trial of Oldcastle, and in 1415 was made dean of the Court of Arches but did not do a good job as dean. He then passed into the royal service, and being employed in the administration of
Normandy was eventually made chancellor of the duchy.Fact|date=February 2008 In 1418 he was made Keeper of the Privy Seal which he retained until 1421.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 95] Early in 1419 he was electedbishop of Rochester , and was consecrated atRouen on 3 December.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 267] In February of 1421 he was translated to Chichester,Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 239] and in November following to London.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 259]During the minority of Henry VI Kemp had a prominent position in the English council as a supporter of
Henry Beaufort ,Fact|date=February 2008 whom he succeeded as chancellor in March of 1426.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 87] In this same year on 20 July he was promoted to theArchbishop of York .Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 282] Kempe held office as chancellor for six years; his main task in government was to keepHumphrey of Gloucester in check.Fact|date=February 2008 His resignation on 28 February 1432was a concession to Gloucester. He still enjoyed Beaufort's favour, and retaining his place in the council was employed on important missions, especially at thecongress of Arras in 1435, and the conference atCalais in 1438.In December 1439 he was created cardinal, and during the next few years took less share in politics. He supported William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk over the king's marriage with
Margaret of Anjou ; but afterwards there arose some difference between them, due in part to a dispute about the nomination of the cardinal's nephew,Thomas Kempe , to the bishopric of London.Fact|date=February 2008 At the time of Suffolk’s fall in January of 1450 Kemp once more became chancellor. His appointment may have been due to the fact that he was not committed entirely to either party. In spite of his age and infirmity he showed some vigour in dealing withJack Cade 's rebellion, and by his official experience and skill did what he could for four years to sustain the king's authority.He was rewarded by his translation to Canterbury in July of 1452,Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 234] when Pope Nicholas added as a special honour the title of
cardinal-bishop of Santa Rufina . As Richard of York gained influence, Kemp became unpopular; men called him "the cursed cardinal," and his fall seemed imminentFact|date=February 2008 when he died suddenly on 22 March 1454. He was buried at Canterbury, in the choir.Kemp was a politician first, and hardly at all a bishop; and he was accused with some justice of neglecting his dioceses, especially at York. Still he was a capable official, and a faithful servant to Henry VI, who called him "one of the wisest lords of the land" (Paslon Letters, l. 315). He founded a college at his native place at Wye, that is now part of the
University of London .Notes
References
* Dugdale, William, "Monasticon", iii. 254, vi. 1430-1432;
* Hook, Walter Farquhar, "Lives of Archbishops of Canterbury", v. 188—267
*
* Raine, James, "Historians of the Church of York", vol. ii.External links
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08616b.htm John Kemp at Catholic Encyclopedia Online]
* [http://www.britannia.com/bios/abofc/jkemp.html John Kemp at Britannia Biographies]----
*1911Persondata
NAME= Kemp, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Kempe, John
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Lord Privy Seal; Lord Chancellor; Bishop of Rochester; Bishop of Chichester; Bishop of London; Archbishop of York; Archbishop of Canterbury
DATE OF BIRTH=about 1380
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=22 March 1454
PLACE OF DEATH=
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