William Carr (biographer)

William Carr (14 June 1862 – 28 January 1925 was a biographer for the Dictionary of National Biography, historian, magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk, England.

William Carr was born in Gomersal House, Yorkshire, to William Carr, magistrate and local squire. He was educated, first at Marlborough College, and then in 1882 to University College, Oxford. His strength was in history where he won the three historical essay prizes: Stanhope (1884); Lothian (1888); and Arnold (1890).

In 1886 he married Margaret, eldest daughter of the Rev. Dr James Franck Bright, Master of University College, and read for the Bar, and having read with Lord Robson he joined the North-Eastern Circuit. He was a strong Conservative, and contested the Morley Division of Yorkshire in 1892 and 1895. To the "Dictionary of National Biography" he was a large contributor, and later in life became a connoisseur especially of silver, furniture, pictures and Greek coins. During the war he was indefatigable in supporting the Volunteer force in the rank of Major. He was a Magistrate of many years standing, for Norfolk, Suffolk, and the West Riding, chairman of the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, vice-chairman of the Norfolk County Council, and a Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk. His real interest was primarily in the land, managing his own estates, he was a practical farmer of great experience and exact knowledge, both of Yorkshire and of Norfolk.

Owing to ill-health Carr had been advised to give up his heavy county work, but the end came unexpectedly when Carr died at Ditchingham Hall, Norfolk on 28 January 1925. He was survived by his wife and five children, his only son being William G. Carr, of the 12th Lancers and four daughters. Three daughters were married, respectively, Margaret to then Air Vice-Marshal, later Air Chief Marshal, Sir Geoffrey Salmond, Colonel Newman and Alice to Major Lawrence Athill. [cite news | title = Mr. William Carr | url = | format = | work = | publisher = The Times | location = London | id = | page = 7 | date = 29 January 1925 | accessdate = 2008-09-26 | quote = [http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.carr/5476/mb.ashx Transcription] ]

Works

* " [http://www.archive.org/details/universitycolleg00carrrich University college] ] " (1902) a history of University College, Oxford

References

External links

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