Robert Ker (August 14, 1824 – 12 February 1879) was the first Auditor General of the British colonies which later became and the Canadian province of

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

. A descendant of the

Dukes of Roxburghe The Duke of Roxburghe () is a title in the peerage of Scotland created in 1707 along with the titles ''Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford'', ''Earl of Kelso'' and ''Viscount Broxmouth''. John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe became the first holder ...

and cousin of

Allan Ebenezer Ker Major Allan Ebenezer Ker VC (5 March 1883 – 12 September 1958) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth ...

, Robert was born in

Dalkeith Dalkeith ( ; gd, Dail Cheith, IPA: �t̪alˈçe is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, on the River Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540. The settlement of Dalkeith grew southwestwards from its 12th-cent ...

and educated in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, and came to Vancouver Island in 1859. He was friendly with colonial governor James Douglas (Governor), Sir James Douglas and John Sebastian Helmcken. Ker was the auditor general of the first Colony of British Columbia (1858–66), Colony of British Columbia and also acted as auditor general of the Colony of Vancouver Island. When the Colony of British Columbia (1866–71), two colonies united in 1866, he continued in the position of auditor general. Upon Canadian Confederation in 1867, he was appointed to the position of Dominion paymaster general. He died in Victoria, British Columbia of Hypothermia, exposure during a snowstorm. The Ker Memorial Wing of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is named in his honour. In 2009 the Ker Family celebrated its 150th anniversary in British Columbia.

References

External links

Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''
1824 births 1879 deaths Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation British Columbia People from Dalkeith Canadian auditors Colony of Vancouver Island people Colony of British Columbia (1858–1866) people Colony of British Columbia (1866–1871) people Deaths from hypothermia {{Canada-gov-bio-stub