George Kerr was a student in Arts and Medicine at Marischal College, Aberdeen, from 1786 - 1790, and a founder member of the Aberdeen Medical Society (est. 1789, subsequently, Aberdeen Medical Chirurgical Society). In 1791 joined the crew of the Aberdeen-registered Christian as ship's surgeon during its voyage to the northern whaling fishery. He subsequently continued his medical studies at Edinburgh, before returning to Aberdeen where he practiced medicine for the rest of his life.
He published several short medical works, including Observations on the Harveian doctrine of the circulation of the blood (London: 1816); Medical sketches on the following subjects: 1.: On the use of Hellebore... 2.: Of Colchicum Autumnale 3.: Observations on the sudden death of women in child-bed (London: 1818); and A brief memoir concerning the typhus fever, prevailing in Aberdeen, during the years 1818 and 1819 (Aberdeen: Booth, 1820). In Examination of a pamphlet entitled Plan of education in the Marischal College and University of Aberdeen, with the reasons of it, drawn up by order of the Faculty, 1755 (Aberdeen: 1826), he commented upon the radical changes proposed to the curriculum and teaching of Marischal College at this time. His library was sold in 1821 by virtue of a warrant issued by the Magistrates of Aberdeen.
For further details see Fasti Academiae Mariscallanae Aberdonensis: Selections from the Records of the Marischal College and University, 1593 - 1860: Volume 2: Officers, Graduates and Alumni, ed. by Peter John Anderson, (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1898), p 365; Ella Hill Burton Rodger, Aberdeen doctors at home and abroad: the narrative of a medical school (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1893); and Studies in the History and Development of the University of Aberdeen: A Quarter centenary Tribute Paid by Certain of Her Professors and Her Devoted Sons, ed. by Peter John Anderson, Aberdeen University Studies: no 19 (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1906)
