After going to Dudley Grammar School, of which he afterwards became a Trustee, Houghton was then educated at St Bartholomew's Hospital under Sir William Lawrence and Dr Rigby. He settled in practice at Dudley in partnership as Houghton & Messiter. He was active in founding the Dudley Dispensary, to

Born at Fowey, in Cornwall, where his father was rector. The family of Kempe living at Croysillack, Cornwall, traced back to 1423. His grandfather was a brother of Admiral Kempe. His two elder brothers were in orders, one becoming the Rector of Merton, North Devon, and Prebend of Exeter Cathedral, t