Robert Kerr was born in 1585/6, son of the Laird of Ferniehurst by his second wife. At the Scottish court he became a page to George Home, later Earl of Dunbar, and travelled with him to England after the accession of James I to the English throne, when his name was Anglicised to Carr. There, in a tournament in 1607 he broke a leg, which brought him to the attention of the King, who took an immediate liking to him, nursing him as he recovered from his injury. Thereafter Carr was instated as the prime favourite, and a groom of the bedchamber. After about 1610 he began to take a more central political role, assisted by his English friend Thomas Overbury (
q.v.,). Initially he was associated with the pro-Protestant Southampton-Pembroke grouping at court, but then at some time in about 1611 he…
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Citation: Lindley, David. "Robert Carr". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 July 2015 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13535, accessed 21 November 2024.]
