William Herbert Kemp (April 1881 – 17 January 1957) was a British chemist and a

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

politician who was Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent.

Background

Kemp was born in

Market Harborough Market Harborough is a market town in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, in the far southeast of the county, forming part of the border with Northamptonshire. Market Harborough's population was 25,143 in 2020. It is the admi ...

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ; postal abbreviation Leics.) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East Midlands, England. The county borders Nottinghamshire to the north, Lincolnshire to the north-east, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire t ...

in April 1881. He was educated at Market Harborough Grammar School and

Caterham Caterham () is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. The town is administratively divided into two: Caterham on the Hill, and Caterham Valley, which includes the main town centre in the middle of a dry valley but rises to equal ...

College in

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

. In 1911 he married Emma Johnson of

Hanley, Staffordshire Hanley is one of the Federation of Stoke-on-Trent, six towns that, along with Burslem, Longton, Staffordshire, Longton, Fenton, Staffordshire, Fenton, Tunstall, Staffordshire, Tunstall and Stoke-upon-Trent, amalgamated to form the City of Stoke ...

. They had one daughter, Ruth Vincent Kemp.

Professional career

Kemp was a chemist who first went into business in

Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England, with an area of . In 2019, the city had an estimated population of 256,375. It is the largest settlement ...

, Staffordshire in 1910 where he remained until retirement. He was the first Chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent branch of the Pharmaceutical Society and the last President of the North Staffordshire Chemists Association.

Political career

In 1921 Kemp was elected to

Stoke-on-Trent City Council Stoke-on-Trent City Council is the local authority of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. As a unitary authority, it has the combined powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council and is administratively separate from the rest of ...

. In 1927 he was appointed a

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

. In 1939 he was appointed an Alderman of the Council. From 1944-45 he served as the

Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent The position of Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent is largely ceremonial, determined by a vote amongst the elected councillors of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Candidates are selected from the councillors. The lord mayor for 2022 to 2023 is Faisal Huss ...

. He was Chairman of the Juvenile Panel of the City. His wife was Deputy Organiser of Stoke

Women's Voluntary Service The Royal Voluntary Service (known as the Women's Voluntary Services (WVS) from 1938 to 1966; Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) from 1966 to 2004 and WRVS from 2004 to 2013) is a voluntary organisation concerned with helping people in need ...

. He was Chairman of North Staffordshire Liberal Federation. He took a particular interest in education in the North Staffordshire area and in 1949 was one of the founders of

Keele University Keele University, officially known as the University of Keele, is a public research university in Keele, approximately from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire, Keele ...

. He was Liberal candidate for the new Stoke-on-Trent South division of Staffordshire at the 1950 General Election. He did not stand for parliament again.British parliamentary election results 1950-1973, Craig, F.W.S.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, William Herbert 1881 births Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates English chemists Councillors in Staffordshire People from Market Harborough 1957 deaths Lord Mayors of Stoke-on-Trent