Kerr, who lived in East Lothian, was the principal owner of Dick, Kerr, and Company Ltd, which gained large contracts for the construction of tram and cable lines in London, Edinburgh and other cities.[3]
He unsuccessfully contested the 1900 general election in his home area of Haddingtonshire.[4] In April 1903, Robert William Hanbury, the Conservative MP for Preston, died aged 58. In the preceding years, Kerr's company had opened extensive tram and electrical equipment factories in Preston,[3] employing nearly 2,000 people,[5] and he was selected as the Conservative candidate for the by-election in May 1903. The Times newspaper reported that he described himself as a firm supporter of the government and as "a thorough Imperialist, believing the maintenance of the Empire as a whole to be essential to the prosperity, if not continued existence, of Britain as an independent Power".[6] The Liberal Party backed the Labour candidate, trade unionist John Hodge,[7] who had the support of the local temperance movement and reported the defection of many local working-class Conservatives to the Labour cause.[8] However, Kerr won the seat[9] with a majority of 14% of the votes over Hodge, his sole opponent.[10]
^Fuller, Martin (July 2015). Talyllyn & Corris Steam Locomotives Volume 1: Pre-preservation and Manufacturers. p. 233. ISBN978-0-9565652-5-9.
^ ab"Election Intelligence. Preston". The Times. London. 15 May 1903. p. 5.
^Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 542. ISBN978-0-900178-06-1.
^"Election Intelligence". The Times. London. 8 May 1903. p. 5.
^"Election Intelligence". The Times. London. 9 May 1903. p. 12.
^"Election Intelligence". The Times. London. 12 May 1903. p. 7.
^"Election Intelligence. Preston". The Times. London. 14 May 1903. p. 7.
john, kerr, british, politician, john, kerr, 1852, 1925, british, businessman, conservative, party, politician, member, parliament, preston, lancashire, from, 1903, 1906, kerr, lived, east, lothian, principal, owner, dick, kerr, company, which, gained, large, . John Kerr 1852 1925 1 2 was a British businessman and a Conservative Party politician He was the Member of Parliament MP for Preston in Lancashire from 1903 to 1906 Kerr who lived in East Lothian was the principal owner of Dick Kerr and Company Ltd which gained large contracts for the construction of tram and cable lines in London Edinburgh and other cities 3 He unsuccessfully contested the 1900 general election in his home area of Haddingtonshire 4 In April 1903 Robert William Hanbury the Conservative MP for Preston died aged 58 In the preceding years Kerr s company had opened extensive tram and electrical equipment factories in Preston 3 employing nearly 2 000 people 5 and he was selected as the Conservative candidate for the by election in May 1903 The Times newspaper reported that he described himself as a firm supporter of the government and as a thorough Imperialist believing the maintenance of the Empire as a whole to be essential to the prosperity if not continued existence of Britain as an independent Power 6 The Liberal Party backed the Labour candidate trade unionist John Hodge 7 who had the support of the local temperance movement and reported the defection of many local working class Conservatives to the Labour cause 8 However Kerr won the seat 9 with a majority of 14 of the votes over Hodge his sole opponent 10 Kerr held the Preston seat until his defeat at the 1906 general election 10 after which he did not stand for Parliament again His daughter Margot married the British Army officer and first class cricketer Henry Baird in 1905 11 References edit Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPs Constituencies beginning with P part 2 Fuller Martin July 2015 Talyllyn amp Corris Steam Locomotives Volume 1 Pre preservation and Manufacturers p 233 ISBN 978 0 9565652 5 9 a b Election Intelligence Preston The Times London 15 May 1903 p 5 Craig F W S 1983 1969 British parliamentary election results 1918 1949 3rd ed Chichester Parliamentary Research Services p 542 ISBN 978 0 900178 06 1 Election Intelligence The Times London 8 May 1903 p 5 Election Intelligence The Times London 9 May 1903 p 12 Election Intelligence The Times London 12 May 1903 p 7 Election Intelligence Preston The Times London 14 May 1903 p 7 No 27553 The London Gazette 19 May 1903 p 3149 a b Craig page 173 McCrery Nigel 2001 Humphris Edith Mary Creagh O Moore eds The V C and D S O Vol 2nd volume Naval amp Military Press p 250 External links editHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by John Kerr Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byRobert William HanburyWilliam Tomlinson Member of Parliament for Preston1903 1906 With William Tomlinson Succeeded byJohn Thomas MacphersonHarold Cox nbsp nbsp nbsp This article about a Conservative Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom representing an English constituency and born in the 1850s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Kerr British politician amp oldid 1095607304, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
