Kerr, Sir John (1914-1991), was governor general of Australia from 1974 to 1977. Kerr created a controversy in 1975 by dismissing Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Kerr took this action after a dispute between Whitlam and the leaders of the country’s Liberal and National Country (now National) parties threatened to stop the operations of the government. The Liberal and National parties hoped to force Whitlam to resign, paving the way for new elections. When Whitlam refused, the Liberal and National parties used their Senate majority to block the approval of funds needed to run the government. Kerr resolved the crisis by removing Whitlam from office. Kerr then named Malcolm Fraser, head of the Liberal Party, to serve as prime minister until new elections could be held.
John Robert Kerr was born in Sydney on Sept. 24, 1914. He was the son of a Balmain boilermaker. He was educated at Fort Street High School and the University of Sydney. He served as chief justice of New South Wales from 1972 to 1974. Kerr received a knighthood in 1974. He died in Sydney on March 24, 1991.
