Lord Walter Kerr - Flag Officer

Flag Officer

Promoted to rear admiral on 1 January 1889, Kerr became Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet, hoisting his flag in the battleship HMS Trafalgar in April 1890 and then in the cruiser HMS Amphion in April 1892. He became Junior Naval lord in August 1892 and Second Naval Lord in November 1893. Promoted to vice admiral on 20 February 1895, he became Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Squadron, hoisting his flag in the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign in May 1895 and then in the battleship HMS Majestic in December 1895. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1896.

Kerr became Second Naval Lord again in May 1899 before being made First Naval Lord in August 1899. He was promoted to full admiral on 21 March 1900, advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 26 June 1902 and then promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 16 June 1904. During his time as First Naval Lord Kerr presided over a period of continued re-armament in the face of German naval expansion but was unceasingly harassed by Admiral Sir John Fisher until he was replaced by Fisher in October 1904.

In retirement he was President of the Catholic Union of Great Britain: he lived at Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire (which his wife had inherited) and died there on 12 May 1927. He was buried at St Michael's Church nearby.