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A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Kerr, Mark

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1777998A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Kerr, MarkWilliam Richard O'Byrne

KERR. (Commander, 1846.)

The Honourable Mark Kerr, born 3 April, 1814, is second surviving son (by Charlotte, late Countess of Antrim, third daughter of Randall, late Marquess of Antrim) of the late Lord Mark Robt. Kerr, Vice-Admiral of the White.[1] He is grandson of Wm. John, fifth Marquess of Lothian, K.T., Colonel of the 11th Regt. of Dragoons; brother of the present Earl of Antrim; brother-in-law of the Earl of Abingdon; and first-cousin of Lord Fred. Herbert Kerr, Commander R.N.

This officer passed his examination in 1834; obtained his first commission 10 Oct. 1837; and was subsequently appointed – 29 April, 1838, to the Wellesley 72, Capt. Thos. Maitland, in which ship he served under Sir Gordon Bremer during the war in China – 9 Feb. 1842 and 15 April, 1844, to the Formidable 84 and Queen 110, both commanded by Sir Chas. Sullivan on the Mediterranean station – and 21 Aug. 184.5, to the President 50, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Jas. Rich. Dacres at the Cape of Good Hope. He attained his present rank 12 Jan. 1846; and has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.


  1. Lord Mark Robert Kerr was horn in 1776. He was Midshipman of the Lion 64 in Lord Macartney’s expedition to China in 1702; Lieutenant of the Sans Pareil 80 in Lord Bridport’s action in 1795; and Capt. of the Cormorant 20 at the reduction of Minorca in 1798. On the renewal of hostilities in 1803 his Lordship obtained command of the Fisgard frigate. He became a Rear-Admiral in 1821, attained the rank of Vice-Admiral in 1837, and died 9 Sept. 1840.