Alexander Ferrie Kemp was born on June 28, 1822, in West Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
He was a Presbyterian clergyman, scholar, and administrator. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh and the Presbyterian College, London, England. In 1850, he was ordained to the ministry and became a chaplain to the 26th Cameronian Regiment of Foot, then stationed in Bermuda. In 1855, he accepted a call to the St. Gabriel Street Church in Montreal, where he stayed until 1865. He was also an editor of the Canadian Presbyterian from 1857 to 1858, and in 1861, he published a valuable "Digest of the Minutes of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada". He was a member of the Natural History Society of Montreal and contributed frequently to the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist. McGill College granted him an honorary degree of M.A. in 1863. He was also granted an honorary degree of LL.D. from Queen’s College, Kingston. In 1870, he left for the U.S. where he was teaching at Olivet College, Michigan, and at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. In 1874, he returned to Ontario and became principal of Young Ladies’ College in Brantford (1874-1878) and the Ottawa Ladies’ College (1878-1883).
In 1845, he married Mary Young (1819–1899). He died on May 3, 1884, in Hamilton, Ontario.