John H. Kerr

Who was John H. Kerr?

John Hosea Kerr, grand-nephew of John Kerr and relative of John Kerr, Jr., was a Democratic Party member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing North Carolina from 1923 to 1953. Kerr was born in Caswell County, North Carolina but lived most of his life in Warrenton, North Carolina.

Kerr was originally elected in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Claude Kitchin. He lost a bid for re-election in the 1952 Democratic Party primary to Lawrence H. Fountain.

Constructed between 1947 and 1953, Kerr Lake, Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, and John H. Kerr Dam is named after him deriving from his instrumental efforts towards the project.

Kerr's son, John H. Kerr, Jr., and grandson, John H. Kerr, III, both served in the North Carolina General Assembly