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'''Reuben Kemper''' (1770 – October 10, 1826) was an American pioneer and [[filibuster (military)|filibuster]].
{{Short description|American pioneer and filibuster}}
'''Reuben Kemper''' (February 21, 1771 – January 29, 1827) was an American pioneer and [[filibuster (military)|filibuster]].


==Kemper and West Florida==
==Kemper and West Florida==
Born in [[Fauquier County, Virginia]], Kemper and his brothers Nathan and [[Samuel Kemper|Samuel]] settled in [[Feliciana Parish, Louisiana|Feliciana]], near [[Baton Rouge]], Spanish West Florida, shortly after 1800. Expelled from the province by the Spanish authorities in a dispute over land titles, the Kemper brothers organized a small force in the [[Mississippi Territory]] and returned, declaring West Florida to be independent. They attempted to capture [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]] in 1804, but were defeated, having failed to gain the support of local Anglo-American settlers, most of whom were satisfied with Spanish rule on account of Spain's liberal [[land grants]] and its protection of [[slavery]]. The following year Spanish forces captured all three brothers while they were on U.S. soil, but American forces rescued them as they were being taken down the [[Mississippi River]].
Born in [[Fauquier County, Virginia]], Kemper and his brothers Nathan and [[Samuel Kemper|Samuel]] settled in [[Feliciana Parish, Louisiana|Feliciana Parish]], near [[Baton Rouge]], [[Spanish West Florida]], shortly after 1800. Expelled from the province by the Spanish authorities in a dispute over land titles, the Kemper brothers organized a small force in the [[Mississippi Territory]] and returned, declaring West Florida to be independent. They attempted to capture [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]] in 1804, but were defeated, having failed to gain the support of local Anglo-American settlers. Most of the latter were satisfied with Spanish rule on account of Spain's liberal [[land grant]]s and its protection of [[slavery]]. The following year Spanish forces captured all three brothers while they were on U.S. soil, but American forces rescued them as they were being taken down the [[Mississippi River]].


In 1810, during the rebellion against Spanish rule by British and [[English American|Anglo-American]] settlers (who comprised the majority of inhabitants), Reuben Kemper and Joseph White were authorized to invite the inhabitants of [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] and [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]] to join in the revolt. When Kemper crossed into the Mississippi Territory, U.S. forces, not wishing to provoke Spain into war and fearing Kemper's intentions, arrested him. He was more fortunate than his colleagues, who were seized by the Spanish authorities and sent as prisoners to [[Morro Castle (fortress)|El Morro]], in [[Havana]], Cuba.
In 1810, during the rebellion against [[New Spain|Spanish]] rule by British and [[English American|Anglo-American]] settlers (who comprised the majority of inhabitants), Reuben Kemper and Joseph White were authorized to invite the inhabitants of [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] and [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]] to join in the revolt. When Kemper crossed into the Mississippi Territory, U.S. forces arrested him, as they did not wish to provoke Spain into war and feared Kemper's intentions. He was more fortunate than his colleagues, who were seized by the Spanish authorities and sent as prisoners to [[Morro Castle (Havana)|El Morro]], in [[Havana]], Cuba.


Nevertheless, the rebellion succeeded and the [[Republic of West Florida]] came into existence. However, it would last only 90 days before it was annexed by the United States.
But the rebellion spread and the [[Republic of West Florida]] declared independence from Spain. 78 days later, it was annexed by the United States.


==Later years==
==Later years==
In 1812-13 Kemper took part in the [[Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition]] into [[Spanish Texas]], fighting to help free Mexico from Spanish rule. He also served as a colonel under [[Andrew Jackson]] at the [[Battle of New Orleans]] in January 1815.
In 1812–13, Kemper took part in the [[Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition]] into [[Spanish Texas]], fighting to help free Mexico from Spanish rule. He also served as a colonel under [[Andrew Jackson]] at the [[Battle of New Orleans]] in January 1815.


Kemper then settled down peacefully as a planter in Mississippi. He died in 1826 in [[Natchez, Mississippi]], aged 55 or 56.
Kemper settled down as a [[Planter (American South)|planter]] in [[Mississippi]]. He died in 1827 in [[Natchez, Mississippi]], aged 55 or 56.


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
Reuben Kemper is the namesake of [[Kemper County, Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite book | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA173#v=onepage&q&f=false | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=173}}</ref>
Reuben Kemper is the namesake of [[Kemper County, Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n172 173]}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*David A. Bice, ''The Original Lone Star Republic: Scoundrels, Statesmen and Schemers of the 1810 West Florida Rebellion'', Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2004.
*David A. Bice, ''The Original Lone Star Republic: Scoundrels, Statesmen and Schemers of the 1810 West Florida Rebellion'', Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2004.
*Andrew McMichael, "The Kemper 'Rebellion': Filibustering and Resident Anglo American Loyalty in Spanish West Florida", ''Louisiana History'', vol. 43, no. 2 (Spring 2002), p.&nbsp;140.
*Andrew McMichael, "The Kemper 'Rebellion': Filibustering and Resident Anglo American Loyalty in Spanish West Florida", ''Louisiana History'', vol. 43, no. 2 (Spring 2002), p.&nbsp;133-165.
*Andrew McMichael, ''Atlantic Loyalties: Americans in Spanish West Florida, 1785-1810'', University of Georgia Press, 2008.
*Andrew McMichael, ''Atlantic Loyalties: Americans in Spanish West Florida, 1785-1810'', University of Georgia Press, 2008.


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*[http://enlou.com/places/floridaparishes.htm Kemper references in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana]
*[http://enlou.com/places/floridaparishes.htm Kemper references in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana]


{{Authority control|VIAF=36127985}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Kemper, Reuben
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American pioneer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1770
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = October 10, 1826
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemper, Reuben}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemper, Reuben}}
[[Category:American pioneers]]
[[Category:American pioneers]]
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[[Category:1770 births]]
[[Category:1770 births]]
[[Category:1826 deaths]]
[[Category:1826 deaths]]
[[Category:Date of birth missing]]
[[Category:American filibusters (military)]]

Latest revision as of 05:42, 1 February 2024

Reuben Kemper (February 21, 1771 – January 29, 1827) was an American pioneer and filibuster.

Kemper and West Florida[edit]

Born in Fauquier County, Virginia, Kemper and his brothers Nathan and Samuel settled in Feliciana Parish, near Baton Rouge, Spanish West Florida, shortly after 1800. Expelled from the province by the Spanish authorities in a dispute over land titles, the Kemper brothers organized a small force in the Mississippi Territory and returned, declaring West Florida to be independent. They attempted to capture Baton Rouge in 1804, but were defeated, having failed to gain the support of local Anglo-American settlers. Most of the latter were satisfied with Spanish rule on account of Spain's liberal land grants and its protection of slavery. The following year Spanish forces captured all three brothers while they were on U.S. soil, but American forces rescued them as they were being taken down the Mississippi River.

In 1810, during the rebellion against Spanish rule by British and Anglo-American settlers (who comprised the majority of inhabitants), Reuben Kemper and Joseph White were authorized to invite the inhabitants of Mobile and Pensacola to join in the revolt. When Kemper crossed into the Mississippi Territory, U.S. forces arrested him, as they did not wish to provoke Spain into war and feared Kemper's intentions. He was more fortunate than his colleagues, who were seized by the Spanish authorities and sent as prisoners to El Morro, in Havana, Cuba.

But the rebellion spread and the Republic of West Florida declared independence from Spain. 78 days later, it was annexed by the United States.

Later years[edit]

In 1812–13, Kemper took part in the Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition into Spanish Texas, fighting to help free Mexico from Spanish rule. He also served as a colonel under Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.

Kemper settled down as a planter in Mississippi. He died in 1827 in Natchez, Mississippi, aged 55 or 56.

Legacy[edit]

Reuben Kemper is the namesake of Kemper County, Mississippi.[1]

See also[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 173.
  • David A. Bice, The Original Lone Star Republic: Scoundrels, Statesmen and Schemers of the 1810 West Florida Rebellion, Heritage Publishing Consultants, 2004.
  • Andrew McMichael, "The Kemper 'Rebellion': Filibustering and Resident Anglo American Loyalty in Spanish West Florida", Louisiana History, vol. 43, no. 2 (Spring 2002), p. 133-165.
  • Andrew McMichael, Atlantic Loyalties: Americans in Spanish West Florida, 1785-1810, University of Georgia Press, 2008.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reuben_Kemper&oldid=1201697914"