KEMBLE, Gouverneur

1786–1875

Concise Biography

KEMBLE, Gouverneur, a Representative from New York; born in New York City January 25, 1786; completed preparatory studies and was graduated from Columbia College, New York City, in 1803; engaged in mercantile pursuits; visited Spain in 1816 and while there studied the process of casting cannon; established a cannon foundry at Cold Spring, N.Y.; sent to the Mediterranean as a naval agent during the war with Tripoli; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1837-March 3, 1841); declined the nomination for reelection in 1840; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1846; delegate to the Democratic National conventions in 1844 and 1860; interested in the promotion of the Hudson River and Panama Railroads; died at Cold Spring, Putnam County, N.Y., September 16, 1875; interment in Cold Spring Cemetery.

View Record in the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

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External Research Collections

Putnam History Museum

Cold Spring, NY
Papers: In the Fred C. Haida Collection & West Point Foundry Collection, dates unknown, 10 cubic feet. Gouverneur Kemble and his brother, William Kemble, co-founded the West Point Foundry business. Gouverneur Kemble's documents primarily consist of correspondence with several financial notes, voucher and checks. The first group of correspondence is the Kemble-Rodgers letters (1818-1820). This group contains ten letters between Gouverneur Kemble and a Navy Commander pertaining to orders. The second group of correspondence and various documents is in reference to business orders.

Folger Shakespeare Library

Washington, DC
Papers: Letter, November 18, 1873, 1 item. Letter from Kemble, Cold Spring, New York, to Frances Anne Kemble.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA
Papers: In the papers of Joel Roberts Poinsett, 1779-1851, 8 linear feet. Correspondents include Gouverneur Kemble.

Library of Congress
Manuscript Division

Washington, DC
Papers: In the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection, 1853, 1 letter. Letter of Gouverneur Kemble, 1853.
Papers: In the papers of Matthew Calbraith Perry, 1839-1931, 10 items. Subjects include Gouverneur Kemble.
Papers: In the papers of the Read family, 1568-1906, 2.2 linear feet. Correspondents include Gouverneur Kemble. A finding aid is available in the library.

The Morgan Library
Department of Literary and Historical Manuscripts

New York, NY
Papers: 1826, 2 items. A letter from Gouverneur Kemble to F.R. Hassler written on November 25, 1826. In the letter, Gouverneur Kemble writes concerning an agreement with Colonel Thayer.
Papers: 1828, 1 item. A letter from Gouverneur Kemble to F.R. Hassler written on January 23, 1828. In the letter, Gouverneur Kemble writes concerning payment of a sum of money and mentions people for him to see in Washington.
Papers: 1858, 1 item. A letter from Gouverneur Kemble to J. Carson Brevoort written on December 29, 1858. In the letter, Gouverneur Kemble writes concerning a Washington manuscript and plans to publish his "remaining notes."

New-York Historical Society

New York, NY
Papers: In the West Point Foundry Association Collection, 1817-1878, 7 volumes and 30 items. Persons represented include Gouverneur Kemble.

The New York Public Library
Manuscripts & Archives Section

New York, NY
Papers: In the Washington Irving Papers, 1759-1898, 15 linear feet. Other authors include Gouverneur Kemble. A finding aid is available in the repository.

The New York Public Library
Manuscripts & Archives Section

New York, NY
Papers: In the Joseph G. Swift Correspondence, 1809-1862, 0.3 linear foot. Other authors include Gouverneur Kemble. A finding aid is available in the repository.

Pennsylvania State University Libraries
Rare Books and Manuscripts

University Park, PA
Papers: Letter, February 8, 1809, 3 pages. Letter is written by Kemble to John Gibson containing personal news and discussing starting a subscription for a bust of General Hamilton.
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