Dr JT van der Kemp, controversial missionary and physician, dies

Date: 15 Dec 1811
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Dr JT van der Kemp, controversial missionary and physician, dies

Dutch missionary Johannes Theodorus van der Kemp was the first missionary to work among the Xhosa. He became involved with the Khoi Khoi of the Cape Colony and was interested in alleviating their economic plight. His advocacy for the Khoi Khoi to have equal opportunities with White people saw him fall out of favour with the White settlers. Van der Kemp had a rich background in philology (the study of language) which helped him master the Xhosa and Khoi Khoi languages. Not dissuaded by the disapproval received from Whites, he laboured among the Xhosa and the Khoi Khoi and went on to marry a non-White woman; a decision that was viewed as partly out of principle. He died in Cape Town In 1811.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01Lipschutz, M.R. and Rasmussen, R.K. (1986). ‘Van Der Kemp, Johannes Theodorus
021747 to 1811 Congregational South Africa’ from Dictionary of African Christian Biograpy [online]. Available at www.dacb.org [Accessed 17 December 2011]
03De Buys Genealogy (2010). Dr Johannes Theodorus Van Der Kempfrom De Buys Genealogy [online]. Available at https://debuys.blogspot.com [Accessed 17 December 2011]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, November 23). Dr JT van der Kemp, controversial missionary and physician, dies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070059

South African History Online (2011) 'Dr JT van der Kemp, controversial missionary and physician, dies', South African History Online, 23 November. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070059 (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

South African History Online, Dr JT van der Kemp, controversial missionary and physician, dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070059, (accessed 21 July 2026).

"Dr JT van der Kemp, controversial missionary and physician, dies." South African History Online, 23 Nov. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070059. Accessed 21 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Dr JT van der Kemp, controversial missionary and physician, dies." South African History Online. November 23, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0070059.