US Navy Admiral. A native of Illinois, Kempff entered the United States Naval Academy in 1857 but left with the outbreak of the Civil War to volunteer for immediate service in the Union Navy. In 1862, he received his commission to the rank of Lieutenant and continued to serve with distinction throughout the rest of the war. At war's end, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and remained in the Navy serving aboard several vessels. By 1899, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and a year later was assigned to the position of Commander-in-chief of the Navy's Asiatic Fleet, a post he held until 1902. With the coming of the Boxer Rebellion in China, Admiral Kempff was ordered in May of 1900 to join with forces from several other nations in China. On June 16, 1900, the Allied naval forces began a bombardment of the Taku Forts. As the senior American officer and under previous orders to avoid hostilities with the Chinese, Kempff refused to allow American ships to join in the bombardment and as a result earned the praise of his superiors. Kempff retired from the Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral in 1903.
US Navy Admiral. A native of Illinois, Kempff entered the United States Naval Academy in 1857 but left with the outbreak of the Civil War to volunteer for immediate service in the Union Navy. In 1862, he received his commission to the rank of Lieutenant and continued to serve with distinction throughout the rest of the war. At war's end, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and remained in the Navy serving aboard several vessels. By 1899, he was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and a year later was assigned to the position of Commander-in-chief of the Navy's Asiatic Fleet, a post he held until 1902. With the coming of the Boxer Rebellion in China, Admiral Kempff was ordered in May of 1900 to join with forces from several other nations in China. On June 16, 1900, the Allied naval forces began a bombardment of the Taku Forts. As the senior American officer and under previous orders to avoid hostilities with the Chinese, Kempff refused to allow American ships to join in the bombardment and as a result earned the praise of his superiors. Kempff retired from the Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral in 1903.
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