Born in 1771 in Virginia, Reuben Kemper moved to Spanish West Florida in 1800 and became active in the affairs of the Mississippi Territory. After several attempts to overthrow Spanish rule by force, his vision became reality in 1810 when the Republic of West Florida declared independence from Spain and was later annexed by the United States. Kemper also served as a colonel under Andrew Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. He died in Natchez in 1827, and Kemper County was named in his honor in 1833.