Harry Kempe

Harry Robert Kempe (1 March 1852 – 10 April 1935) was an English electrical engineer, author and editor.

Life Kempe was born at Kensington, London, on 1 March 1852, the youngest son of the Rev. John Edward Kempe, later rector of St James's Church, Piccadilly, and his wife Harriet (née Wood). An older brother was Sir Alfred Bray Kempe, a barrister and mathematician. Another older brother was the civil servant Sir John Arrow Kempe. On 8 July 1880, he married Helen Catherine. They had one daughter. Kempe lived for many years at Brockham, Surrey. He died on 10 April 1935 and is buried at Brockham church.

Education and career Kempe was educated at Westminster School and then studied applied science at King's College London from 1867 to 1870, followed by two years in the laboratory of Sir Charles Wheatstone and then three years with Sir Samuel Canning, engineer-in-chief of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company, where he was involved with the laying of the Malta to Gibraltar telegraph cable in 1870. During World War I he was examiner to the inventions committee of the Air Ministry.