William Herbert Kemp

Herbert Kemp

William Herbert Kemp (April 1881 – 17 January 1957) was a British chemist and a Liberal Party politician who was Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent.

## Background[edit]

Kemp was born in Market Harborough, Leicestershire in April 1881.[1] He was educated at Market Harborough Grammar School and Caterham College in Surrey.[2] In 1911 he married Emma Johnson of Hanley, Staffordshire. They had one daughter, Ruth Vincent Kemp.[3]

## Professional career[edit]

Kemp was a chemist who first went into business in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire in 1910 where he remained until retirement.[4] 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.[5]

## Political career[edit]

In 1921 Kemp was elected to Stoke-on-Trent City Council. In 1927 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace. In 1939 he was appointed an Alderman of the Council. From 1944-45 he served as the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent.[6] He was Chairman of the Juvenile Panel of the City. His wife was Deputy Organiser of Stoke Women's Voluntary Service. 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. He was Liberal candidate for the new Stoke-on-Trent South division of Staffordshire at the 1950 General Election.[7]

General Election 1950: Stoke-on-Trent South  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labour | Ellis Smith | 34,339  | 64.4  |
| Conservative | L Orridge  | 14,637  | 27.5  |
| Liberal | William Herbert Kemp | 4,307  | 8.1  |
Majority  | 19,702  | 37.0  |
Turnout |  | 85.3  |
| Labour win

He did not stand for parliament again.[8]

## References[edit]

1. ^ 1911 England Census
2. ^ Who's Who of 475 Liberal Candidates fighting the 1950 General Election
3. ^ "Our Family Genealogy Pages". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
4. ^ The Times House of Commons, 1950
5. ^ The Chemist and Druggist (1957)
6. ^ The Times House of Commons, 1950
7. ^ Who's Who of 475 Liberal Candidates fighting the 1950 General Election
8. ^ British parliamentary election results 1950-1973, Craig, F.W.S.