A descendant of the Dukes of Roxburghe and cousin of Allan Ebenezer Ker, Robert was born in Dalkeith and educated in Scotland, and came to Vancouver Island in 1859.
He was friendly with colonial governor Sir James Douglas and John Sebastian Helmcken.
Upon Canadian Confederation in 1867, he was appointed to the position of Dominion paymaster general.
The Ker Memorial Wing of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is named in his honour.
This biography of a person who has held a non-elected position in the Government of Canada is a stub.