John Kemp

John KempTemplate:Efn (Template:C. 1380 – 22 March 1454) was a medieval English cardinal, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lord Chancellor of England.

Biography

Kemp was the son of Thomas Kempe, a gentleman of Olantigh, in the parish of Wye near Ashford, Kent, and Beatrix Lewkenor, daughter of Sir Thomas Lewkenor.<ref name="ODNB">Template:Cite ODNB</ref> He was born about 1380 and educated at Merton College, Oxford.<ref name="EB1911">{{#if: |

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Kemp practised as an ecclesiastical lawyer, was an assessor at the trial of John 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.<ref name=luminarium>Template:Cite web</ref> He was briefly archdeacon of Durham.<ref name="DNB">Template:Cite DNB</ref> In 1418 he was made Keeper of the Privy Seal which he retained until 1421.Template:Sfn Early in 1419 he was elected Bishop of Rochester, and was consecrated at Rouen on 3 December.Template:Sfn In February 1421 he was translated to Chichester,Template:Sfnand in November following to London.Template:Sfn

During the minority of Henry VI Kemp had a prominent position in the English council as a supporter of Henry Beaufort,<ref name=luminarium/> whom he succeeded as chancellor in March 1426.Template:Sfn In this same year on 20 July he was promoted to the Archbishop of York.Template:Sfn Kemp held office as chancellor for six years, consistently supporting Henry Beaufort against Humphrey of Gloucester.<ref name=luminarium/> His resignation on 28 February 1432Template:Sfn was a concession to Gloucester. He still enjoyed Beaufort's favour, and retaining his place in the council was employed on important missions, especially at the congress of Arras in 1435, and the conference at Calais in 1438.<ref name="EB1911"/>

In December 1439 Kemp was created a cardinal priest,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=luminarium/> At the time of Suffolk's fall in January 1450 Kemp once more became chancellor.Template:Sfn His appointment may have been because he was not committed entirely to either party. In spite of his age and infirmity he showed some vigour in dealing with Jack Cade's rebellion, and by his official experience and skill did what he could for four years to sustain the king's authority.<ref name="EB1911"/>

Kemp was rewarded by his translation to Canterbury in July 1452,Template:Sfn when Pope Nicholas V added as a special honour the title of cardinal-bishop of Santa Rufina.<ref>Plea Rolls of the Court of Common Pleas; Year: 1460, his titles listed & administrators named: second entry in: http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT1/H6/CP40no800/aCP40no800fronts/IMG_0398.htm</ref> As Richard of York gained influence, Kemp became unpopular; men called him "the cursed cardinal", and his fall seemed imminent<ref name="EB1911"/> when he died suddenly on 22 March 1454.Template:Sfn He was buried at Canterbury, in the choir.<ref name="EB1911"/>

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.<ref name="EB1911"/> Still he was a capable official, and a faithful servant to Henry VI, who called him "one of the wisest lords of the land".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He founded Wye College near his birthplace, which became part of the University of London before closing in 2009.<ref name="arch">Template:Cite web</ref>

Bibliography

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External links

• Template:Cite book

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