Honours
John Kerr was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) on 1 January 1966 for services as President of the Law Council of Australia. On 1 January 1974, he was made a Knight Commander of that order (KCMG), for services as Chief Justice of NSW. In 1974 he was made a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem.
On the establishment of the Order of Australia on 14 February 1975, as Governor-General he was made Principal Companion of the Order (AC). When the category of Knight was added to the Order on 24 May 1976, he was made Principal Knight of the Order (AK).
In 1976 he was elevated to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG). He had asked Gough Whitlam for this appointment shortly after becoming Governor-General in 1974, but was rebuffed; it was Labor Party policy not to recommend knighthoods.
On 30 March 1977 he was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), an award within the personal gift of the Sovereign, for services as Governor-General.
He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1977. This was another appointment he had unsuccessfully sought from Whitlam in 1974.
Read more about this topic: John Kerr (governor-general)
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—D.H. (David Herbert)
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—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)