William Carr

Who was William Carr?

William Carr 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; Lothian; and Arnold.

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.