b. Pleasant Valley, New York, 1789
d. 

Jackson Kemper was a pioneer churchman and first missionary bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Education

He graduated from Columbia University in 1809. He was ordained a deacon in 1811, and a priest in 1814. From 1811 to 1831, he served as a minister in Philadelphia. He was a rector in Norwalk, Connecticut from 1831 to 1835. In 1834, he made his first journey to the West, visiting the Oneida mission school near Green Bay.

Ecclesiastical Work

He was consecrated missionary bishop in 1835, and served in Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin from 1835 to 1859. He made his first Episcopal visit to Wisconsin in 1838. He established his residence at Delafield in 1846. In 1847, he established the diocese of Wisconsin. He was provisional bishop for Wisconsin from 1847 to 1854 and first diocesan bishop from 1854 to 1870. A familiar and well-liked figure in the Northwest, Kemper soon realized the inadequacies of most eastern-trained churchmen in a frontier environment. In an attempt to improve the situation, he founded Kemper College, Missouri in 1835. With the aid of J. L. Breck, William Adams and J. H. Hobart, Kemper established Wisconsin's Nashotah House theological seminary in 1841, and Racine College in 1852.

Later Life

Although not outspokenly partisan in church politics, Kemper was known as a high churchman, and made Nashotah and Racine College prominent examples of ritualistic observance. In 1868, he traveled to England to attend the Council of Bishops. A pioneer in spreading the Episcopal faith in the Northwest, Kemper was responsible for establishing seven dioceses, founding three colleges and opening numerous schools and academies.

Learn More

Jackson Kemper

See more images, essays, newspapers and records about Jackson Kemper.

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.

Dict. Amer. Biog.; Historical Mag. Prot. Episc. Church, 4; G. White, Apostle of West. Church (New York, 1900); J. Kemper Papers.