Major Sir Schomberg Kerr McDonnell, (22 March 1861 – 23 November 1915) was a British Army officer, politician, and civil servant, who was for a number of years Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.
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Background
Kerr McDonnell was born at Glenarm in County Antrim the youngest son of ten children to Mark McDonnell, 5th Earl of Antrim (1814–1869), by his wife Jane Emma Hannah Macan (c. 1825–1892). His paternal grandfather Lord Mark Kerr (1776–1840) was a descendant of the Marquess of Lothian, whose wife Charlotte McDonnell (1779–1835) was the Countess of Antrim in her own right, hence the change of surname for their descendants.
He was educated at Eton College and at University College, Oxford. Whilst at Oxford he became a Freemason in the Apollo University Lodge, a Masonic lodge for students and former students of the university.
Political career
In 1888 Kerr McDonnell was appointed Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, and served as such while he was in office until 1892, and again from 1895 to 1902 (with a short interval while he fought in South Africa in 1900). He also served as private secretary to Lord Salisbury while he was Leader of the Opposition from 1892 to 1895. In failing health, Lord Salisbury resigned as Prime Minister in July 1902, and Kerr McDonnell received a non-political appointment, as Secretary to the Office of Works, a position he held until 1912. It was the duty of this department to look after the royal palaces, and the position brought him into close contact with the royal family.