Charles William James Orr

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Sir Charles William James Orr
Governor of the Bahamas
In office
1927–1932
MonarchGeorge V
Preceded bySir Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux
Succeeded bySir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford
Personal details
Born20 September 1870
United Kingdom
Died1945
Surrey, UK

Sir Charles William James Orr, KCMG (20 September 1870 – 1945) was a British colonial administrator.[1]

Biography[edit]

He was born the youngest son of Major Andrew Orr of Co. Londonderry and educated at Bath College and the Royal Military College, Woolwich. Charles’ elder sister was the astronomer Mary Acworth Orr.[2]

He was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery as a second lieutenant on 15 February 1889, and promoted to lieutenant on 15 February 1892. Serving in British India, he was promoted to captain on 7 September 1899.[3] Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War later that year, in March 1900 he was seconded for service in South Africa.[4] He was later promoted to the rank of major. In 1903 he became the British Resident in Northern Nigeria. From 1911 to 1917 he was Chief Secretary to the Government of Cyprus .[5] and from 1919 to 1926 Colonial Secretary of Gibraltar.[6] He was made CMG in 1921.[7]

He served as Governor of the Bahamas from 1927 to 1932 and was knighted KCMG in 1928.[8][9]

Orr wrote two well-received books during his career, The Making of Northern Nigeria in 1911 and Cyprus under British Rule in 1918.

His daughter Lettice married Sir Allen Lane, founder of Penguin books, becoming Lady Letitia Lucy Lane.[10]

Publications[edit]

Cyprus under British Rule (1918).

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jones, P. Sources in British Political History 1900-1952 Volume 6. p. 223.
  2. ^ "FreeCEN - UK Census Records (England, Scotland, Wales)". www.freecen.org.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  3. ^ Hart′s Army list, 1901
  4. ^ "No. 27175". The London Gazette. 20 March 1900. p. 1878.
  5. ^ Scott-Keltie, J. The Statesmans Year Book. p. lviii.
  6. ^ 'The Making of Northern Nigeria', Sir Charles Orr, 'Introduction to the Second Edition' p.16 (1965)
  7. ^ "No. 32178". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1921. p. 6.
  8. ^ "No. 14301". The Edinburgh Gazette. 11 January 1927. p. 11.
  9. ^ "No. 33343". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1928. p. 5.
  10. ^ The Making of Northern Nigeria, Introduction to the Second Edition, 1965