Kerr was born in 1757[1] in Bughtridge, Roxburghshire, the son of James Kerr, a jeweller, who served as MP for Edinburgh 1747–1754,[2] and his wife Elizabeth. He was sent to the High School in Edinburgh.
He translated several scientific works into English, such as Antoine Lavoisier's work of 1789, Traité Élémentaire de Chimie, published under the title Elements of Chemistry in a New Systematic Order containing All the Modern Discoveries, in 1790.[4] In 1792, he published The Animal Kingdom, the first two volumes of a four-tome translation of Linnaeus'Systema Naturae, which is often cited as the taxonomic authority for a great many species. (He never translated the remaining two volumes.)
In 1794 he left his post as a surgeon to manage a paper mill at Ayton in Berwickshire which he had purchased. He lost much of his fortune with this enterprise. Out of economical necessity he began writing again in 1809, publishing a variety of minor works, for instance a General View of the Agriculture of Berwickshire. His last work was a translation of Cuvier'sRecherches sur les ossements fossiles de quadrupedes, which was published after Kerr's death under the title "Essays on the Theory of the Earth".
His other works included a massive historical study entitled A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels in eighteen volumes. Kerr began the series in 1811, dedicating it to Sir Alexander Cochrane, K.B., Vice-Admiral of the White. Publication did not cease following Kerr's death in 1813; the latter volumes were published into the 1820s.
He died at home, Hope Park House,[5] east of the Meadows in Edinburgh, where he had lived since 1810, and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard in central Edinburgh against the eastern wall. His stone is added to a much earlier (1610) ornate stone monument. His son, David Wardrobe Kerr (1796–1815) lies with him.
Selected writingsedit
Kerr, Robert (1824). A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time. Edinburgh: William Blackwood.
^Seccombe, Thomas (2004). "Kerr, Robert (1757–1813)". In McConnell, Anita (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/15466. Retrieved 18 February 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ abBiographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002(PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN0-902-198-84-X.
^Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1784-90
^Lavoisier, Antoine (1790). Elements of Chemistry.
Lavoisier, Antoine (1965). Elements of Chemistry. New York: Dover.- The introduction by Douglas McKie has information on Robert Kerr, the book's translator.
Contemporary review of the "Essays on the Theory of the Earth"
Significant Scots: Robert Kerr from ElectricScotland.com.
February 16, 2024
robert, kerr, writer, other, people, named, robert, kerr, robert, kerr, disambiguation, robert, kerr, frse, frcse, october, 1757, october, 1813, scottish, surgeon, writer, scientific, other, subjects, translator, grave, robert, kerr, greyfriars, kirkyard, cont. For other people named Robert Kerr see Robert Kerr disambiguation Dr Robert Kerr FRSE FAS FRCSE 20 October 1757 11 October 1813 was a Scottish surgeon writer on scientific and other subjects and translator The grave of Robert Kerr Greyfriars Kirkyard Contents 1 Life 2 Selected writings 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksLife editKerr was born in 1757 1 in Bughtridge Roxburghshire the son of James Kerr a jeweller who served as MP for Edinburgh 1747 1754 2 and his wife Elizabeth He was sent to the High School in Edinburgh He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and practised at the Edinburgh Foundling Hospital as a surgeon He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1788 His proposers were Alexander Fraser Tytler James Russell and Andrew Dalzell 2 At this time he lived at Foresters Wynd off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh 3 He translated several scientific works into English such as Antoine Lavoisier s work of 1789 Traite Elementaire de Chimie published under the title Elements of Chemistry in a New Systematic Order containing All the Modern Discoveries in 1790 4 In 1792 he published The Animal Kingdom the first two volumes of a four tome translation of Linnaeus Systema Naturae which is often cited as the taxonomic authority for a great many species He never translated the remaining two volumes In 1794 he left his post as a surgeon to manage a paper mill at Ayton in Berwickshire which he had purchased He lost much of his fortune with this enterprise Out of economical necessity he began writing again in 1809 publishing a variety of minor works for instance a General View of the Agriculture of Berwickshire His last work was a translation of Cuvier s Recherches sur les ossements fossiles de quadrupedes which was published after Kerr s death under the title Essays on the Theory of the Earth His other works included a massive historical study entitled A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels in eighteen volumes Kerr began the series in 1811 dedicating it to Sir Alexander Cochrane K B Vice Admiral of the White Publication did not cease following Kerr s death in 1813 the latter volumes were published into the 1820s He died at home Hope Park House 5 east of the Meadows in Edinburgh where he had lived since 1810 and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard in central Edinburgh against the eastern wall His stone is added to a much earlier 1610 ornate stone monument His son David Wardrobe Kerr 1796 1815 lies with him Selected writings editKerr Robert 1824 A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels Arranged in Systematic Order Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation Discovery and Commerce by Sea and Land from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time Edinburgh William Blackwood See also editCategory Taxa named by Robert Kerr writer Notes edit Seccombe Thomas 2004 Kerr Robert 1757 1813 In McConnell Anita ed Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 15466 Retrieved 18 February 2016 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 2002 PDF The Royal Society of Edinburgh July 2006 ISBN 0 902 198 84 X Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1784 90 Lavoisier Antoine 1790 Elements of Chemistry Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1813References editLee Sidney ed 1892 Kerr Robert 1755 1813 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 31 London Smith Elder amp Co Further reading editLavoisier Antoine 1965 Elements of Chemistry New York Dover The introduction by Douglas McKie has information on Robert Kerr the book s translator External links editWorks by Robert Kerr at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Robert Kerr at Internet Archive Contemporary review of the Essays on the Theory of the Earth Significant Scots Robert Kerr from ElectricScotland com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Kerr writer amp oldid 1183054521, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
