Charles Kerr, 1st Baron Teviot
Encyclopedia
Charles Iain Kerr, 1st Baron Teviot DSO
, MC
(3 May 1874 – 7 January 1968) was a British
politician
.
Kerr was the son of Charles Wyndham Rodolph Kerr and the great-grandson of William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian
. His mother was Anna Maria Olivia, daughter of Admiral Sir George Elliot. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Horse Guards
and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
and the Military Cross
. Kerr entered the House of Commons
at a by-election
in 1932 as a member of the National Liberal Party
. He was Chief Whip
of the National Liberals and served as a Junior Lord of the Treasury
(government whip) from 1937 to 1939 and as Comptroller of the Household
from 1939 to 1940 in the National Government
. The latter year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Teviot, of Burghclere in the County of Southampton. He then served as Chairman of the Liberal National Party (from 1948 known as the National Liberal Party) from 1940 to 1956. He was also a member of the Right Club.
Lord Teviot married, firstly, Muriel Constance, daughter of William Gordon Canning, in 1911. They had no children and were divorced in 1930. He married, secondly, Florence Angela, daughter of Charles Walter Villiers, in 1930. Teviot died in January 1968, aged 93, and was succeeded in the barony by his only son from his second marriage, Charles. Lady Teviot died in 1979.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(3 May 1874 – 7 January 1968) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Kerr was the son of Charles Wyndham Rodolph Kerr and the great-grandson of William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian
William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian
William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian KT was the son of William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian.He married, firstly, Lady Harriet Hobart-Hampden, a younger daughter of 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire , on 14 April 1793...
. His mother was Anna Maria Olivia, daughter of Admiral Sir George Elliot. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Horse Guards
Royal Horse Guards
The Royal Horse Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry.Founded August 1650 in Newcastle Upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment during the reign of...
and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. Kerr entered the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
at a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 1932 as a member of the National Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)
The National Liberal Party, known until 1948 as the Liberal National Party, was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1931 to 1968...
. He was Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
of the National Liberals and served as a Junior Lord of the Treasury
Lord of the Treasury
In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords of the Treasury who serve concurrently. Traditionally, this board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords .Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of Lord...
(government whip) from 1937 to 1939 and as Comptroller of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
from 1939 to 1940 in the National Government
UK National Government
In the United Kingdom the term National Government is an abstract concept referring to a coalition of some or all major political parties. In a historical sense it usually refers primarily to the governments of Ramsay MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin and Neville Chamberlain which held office from 1931...
. The latter year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Teviot, of Burghclere in the County of Southampton. He then served as Chairman of the Liberal National Party (from 1948 known as the National Liberal Party) from 1940 to 1956. He was also a member of the Right Club.
Lord Teviot married, firstly, Muriel Constance, daughter of William Gordon Canning, in 1911. They had no children and were divorced in 1930. He married, secondly, Florence Angela, daughter of Charles Walter Villiers, in 1930. Teviot died in January 1968, aged 93, and was succeeded in the barony by his only son from his second marriage, Charles. Lady Teviot died in 1979.