Reuben Kemper

Reuben Kemper (1770 - October 10 1826) was an American pioneer.

Kemper and West Florida

Born in Fauquier County, Virginia, Kemper and his brothers Nathan and Samuel settled in 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 in 1804, but were defeated. The following year all three brothers were kidnapped by Spanish forces while on U.S. soil, but were rescued by U.S. forces as they were being taken down the Mississippi River.

In 1810, during the rebellion against Spanish rule by the British and American settlers (who made up the majority), Reuben Kemper and Joseph White were authorized to invite the inhabitants of Mobile and Pensacola to join in the revolt. Kemper crossed into the Mississippi Territory, but unexpectedly was arrested by the U.S. forces.

He was more fortunate than his colleagues, who were seized by the Spanish and sent as prisoners to 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 against its wishes by the United States.

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.

Kemper then settled down peacefully as a planter in Mississippi. He died in 1826 in Natchez, Mississippi, aged 55 or 56.

Legacy

Kemper County, Mississippi, is named for him.

See also

• Samuel Kemper, his brother.

References

• 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. 140.

External links

• Reuben Kemper article at AllRefer.com.
• Reuben Kemper article at famousamericans.net
• Kemper references in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana