Location
On the eastern wall of the Navy Aisle (see Cathedral Plan).
Memorial
Inscription
Here lyeth Interred the Body of Sr. John
Kempthorne Knight who had ye Honour
to wear severall Flags in severall com
mands in his Majesties service, and hath
fought severall Battles at sea for his
King and Country: and dyed Commisio
ner of his Majesties Navy at Portsmouth
the 19th day of October 1679
being aged 59 yeares
Heare beneath this Stone doth lye
As much valour as could dye
Who in his life did vigour give
To as much Justice as could live
But Death (which ne'er could him dismay)
Unkindly snatcht him hence away
Kempthorne Knight who had ye Honour
to wear severall Flags in severall com
mands in his Majesties service, and hath
fought severall Battles at sea for his
King and Country: and dyed Commisio
ner of his Majesties Navy at Portsmouth
the 19th day of October 1679
being aged 59 yeares
Heare beneath this Stone doth lye
As much valour as could dye
Who in his life did vigour give
To as much Justice as could live
But Death (which ne'er could him dismay)
Unkindly snatcht him hence away
Further Information
There is a biography of Sir John Kempthorne on the History in Portsmouth website.
NOTE
In his "History of Portsmouth" dated 1817, Lake Allen says that Kempthorne's body is interred to the left of the altar, where the memorial would have been originally sited.
