He was then promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 16 June 1904. During his time as First Naval Lord Kerr presided over a period of continued re-armament in the face of German naval expansion but was unceasingly harassed by Admiral Sir John Fisher until he was replaced by Fisher in October 1904.
He was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 16 June 1904. During his tenure as First Naval Lord, Kerr oversaw a period of continued naval armament in response to German naval expansion but was persistently challenged by Admiral Sir John Fisher until he was replaced by Fisher in October 1904.