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Lord Mark Kerr (British Army officer, born 1676) facts for kids

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Lord Mark Kerr
Born 1 April 1676 (baptismal date)
Newbattle, Midlothian
Died 2 February 1752
Kensington, London
Buried
Allegiance Scotland Scotland 1685–1707
United Kingdom Great Britain 1707–1713
Service/branch Army
Years of service 1694-1719 (Active service)
Rank General
Unit 29th Foot; 13th Foot; 11th Hussars
Commands held Commander, Counties Down and Antrim, 1716;
Battles/wars War of the Spanish Succession1702-1714
Almansa, 1707;
War of the Quadruple Alliance
Capture of Vigo, 1719
Other work Governor of Carrickfergus 1716
Governor of Sheerness 1729
Governor, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Governor of Edinburgh Castle 1745-1752

Lord Mark Kerr (born 1676 – died 1752) was a Scottish soldier. He became a General in the British Army. He fought in important wars like the War of the Spanish Succession. He also held key jobs, such as Governor of Edinburgh Castle.

Lord Mark Kerr: A Scottish General

Early Life and Family

Lord Mark Kerr was born in 1676. He was the fourth son of Robert Kerr, the first Marquess of Lothian. His mother was Jean Campbell. His family had strong ties to the Whig political group. They supported the Glorious Revolution in 1688. This event changed who ruled Britain.

Lord Mark Kerr never married. He passed away in London on February 2, 1752. He was buried in St Mary Abbots church in Kensington. The church was rebuilt later, so his memorial is no longer there.

St Mary Abbots old
Kerr was buried in St Mary Abbots, Kensington. This picture shows the church in 1869.

Military Career Highlights

First Steps in the Army

In 1696, Lord Mark Kerr became a Captain in 'McGill's Regiment of Foot.' This unit was later disbanded. He then moved to 'Lord Jedburgh's Dragoons.' This regiment was owned by his older brother.

Fighting in Spain: The Battle of Almansa

When the War of the Spanish Succession started in 1702, he joined a new regiment. It served in a region called Flanders. In 1706, he became a Colonel. His new unit was called 'Lord Mark Kerr's Regiment of Foot.'

His regiment was sent to Spain. They supported Archduke Charles, who wanted to be king. In April 1707, they fought in the Battle of Almansa. The British and Portuguese soldiers were left alone. Their cavalry (soldiers on horseback) had been defeated. Lord Mark Kerr was wounded in the battle. His regiment lost many soldiers.

The remaining soldiers bravely retreated. They marched about 8 miles from the battlefield. They ran out of ammunition, food, and water. The next day, they had to surrender. The enemy commander, the Duke of Berwick, invited the captured officers to dinner.

Balaca-Battle of Almansa
The Battle of Almansa in April 1707. Lord Mark Kerr's regiment suffered many losses here.

Because of their heavy losses, his regiment was reformed in 1709. It was then disbanded two years later. This happened because the government reduced the army. Lord Mark Kerr was promoted to Brigadier-General. However, many of his junior officers lost their full pay. Some of them later joined the Jacobite Rising in 1715.

Important Commands and Promotions

In 1712, Lord Mark Kerr became Colonel of the 29th Foot. This regiment was sent to Gibraltar. It stayed there for the next 30 years. Lord Mark Kerr might not have joined them in Gibraltar. In 1716, he was made Governor of Carrickfergus. He also became the military commander for Counties Down and Antrim in Ireland.

Carrickfergus Castle, reflections at sunset - geograph.org.uk - 1098306
Carrickfergus Castle. Lord Mark Kerr was based here as Governor in 1716.

During the War of the Quadruple Alliance, Spain supported the Jacobite Rising of 1719. This uprising was quickly stopped. To get back at Spain, Britain sent a naval force. In October, 6,000 British troops landed in the Spanish port of Vigo. They held the port for ten days. They destroyed many supplies and equipment. Then they left without any fighting. Lord Mark Kerr commanded part of this landing force. This was likely his last active military command.

In those days, being a 'Colonel' often meant owning the regiment. It did not always mean leading it in battle. Many colonels had other officers do the actual commanding.

Later Life and Important Roles

Lord Mark Kerr became Colonel of the 13th Regiment of Foot in 1725. He was promoted to Major-General in 1727. In 1729, he became Governor of Sheerness. In 1732, he took command of the 11th Hussars. He was promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1735. Finally, he became a full General on February 26, 1743.

When the Jacobite Rising began in August 1745, he was Governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed. He was appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle in November 1745. This happened after government forces took back the city. He died in London in 1752.

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