On May 27, 1815, Representative Matthew Clay (DR) of Virginia's 15th district died in office before the start of the 1st session of the 14th Congress.
A special election was held in October of that year to fill the resulting vacancy.
Kerr had been defeated for re-election in the regular 1815 elections and took his seat December 5, 1815,[3] at the start of the 1st session.