We regret to have to record the death, in his seventy-first year of Mr George Munro Kerr (of Messrs. Kerr, Newton and Co.) shipowner and shipbroker, Glasgow, which took place at his residence, Athole Gardens, on Sunday. Mr Kerr had been in his usual health and had been attending to business during the week, and the news of his death, which was the result of heart failure, came with a shock of surprise to his numerous friends.

A native of Greenock, where his father was a West India merchant, Mr Kerr was educated at Rothesay, afterwards at the Glasgow High School, and at Glasgow University. Having resolved to adopt a commercial career, he became a clerk in the year 1853 in the office of Messrs James Finlay and Co., of which his uncle, Mr Clarke of Crossbasket, was then the managing partner. Mr Kerr remained there for two years, and some time afterwards began business in partnership with Mr Hannan under the firm of Messrs Hannan, Kerr and Co. Thereafter the firm was known under the style of Messrs Kerr, Wilson and Co., and from 1860 of Messrs Kerr, Newton and Co. Mr Newton died in May of last year.

A man of the highest integrity with a thorough knowledge of the business in which he was engaged, Mr Kerr for many years occupied a leading position in shipping circles, and he was a recognised authority on all questions connected with our mercantile marine. He found time also for much valuable public service. In November 1888, he was appointed a representative of the ratepayers at the Clyde Navigation Trust. From the first he took an active part in all departments of the business, and for eight years he was convenor of the Committee on Rates, a subject of which he had a special knowledge. In 1888 he was appointed convenor of the finance committee, and he held that position until his retirement from the board in 1896. On that occasion, the Lord Provost, Sir James Bell, bore cordial testimony to the excellent work Mr Kerr had done in the management of the finances of the Trust, particularly in connection with the exercise of their borrowing powers, and a minute was passed recording the sense of the board to the value of his varied services and of the estimation in which he was held by his fellow members.

Mr Kerr also took a prominent part in the work of Lloyds Register of British and Foreign shipping. For many years he was a member of the London Committee, and he was chairman of the Glasgow branch from its formation in 1900 until his death. From the year 1871 until 1889 Mr Kerr resided near Lenzie and for a portion of that time he acted as a member of the Dumbartonshire County Council, and he was a Justice of the Peace for Dumbartonshire. In his early years he was connected with the Volunteer force. At the age of twenty-three he held the rank of Captain in the 4th Lanark Battalion, and he marched at the head of his company at the first Royal Review by Queen Victoria in 1860.

With the charitable and benevolent institutions of the city Mr Kerr was for many years associated, and he was ever a generous contributor to their funds. He also took a willing and active part in the work of management. He was a vice president of the Association for the Relief of Incurables, and as chairman of the Lanfine and Broomhill Homes he devoted much time and gave close personal attention to the conduct of both institutions. He was also connected with the Association for the Prevention of Consumption, and for a number of years he was chairman of the Glasgow Deaf and Dumb Institution. A strong advocate of the cause of temperence, he held the position of honorary director of the Scottish Temperence League, and he was always ready actively to support any well-considered proposal to forward the movement.

He was a devoted member of the United Free Church and an elder for a number of years in Westbourne Church, but he took no prominent part in the Courts of the Church. In private as in public life, Mr Kerr was highly esteemed, and his death will be mourned by a wide circle of friends. He is survived by his wife and four sons and four daughters.