John Henry Kerr was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the elder son (with three daughters), of John Smith Kerr, tea and sugar merchant of Greenock, and his wife, Sarah Ann Bray, elder daughter of Tom Cox Bray, an early settler of Adelaide, South Australia.
Kerr was educated first by Messrs Wren and Gurney, later going to the Glasgow Academy (1885-1887). He attended the University of Glasgow from 1886 to 1888, and in 1890 matriculated at Clare College, Cambridge.
Kerr joined the Indian Civil Service in 1892. Sir John was awarded the honours, Companion oi the Order of the Indian Rmnirfl (1911) and C.S.I (1917). His club was the East India United Services.
In retirement, he lived at Fairstead, Latchmoor avenue, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, and at Orcadia, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
Sir John died on 8 April 1934 at his residence in Gerrards Cross and was buried in the cemetery at Chalfont Street Peter. He was survived by Lady Kerr until January 1957.
See obituaries in the London Times.
He was settlement officer, Bihar (1899). Collector of Midnapore (1904). Director of Land Records, Bengal (1905).
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India (1907).
Revenue Secretary to the Government of India (1911). Chief Secretary to the Government of Bengal (1915).
(Finance) member of Lord Zetland"s Bengal Executive Council (1921-1922). Governor of Assam (1922-1927).
Acting Governor of Bengal (1925).
Deputy Chairman of the Indian Franchise Committee (1932). Retired (193-); "in retirement continued an esteemed counsellor on Indian Affairs". Publications: Settlement Reports of Saran, and Darbanga.
Joint-editor, "Rampini"s Bengal Tenancy Acting".
