Charles William James Orr

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

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

Early life and education

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He was born the youngest son of Major Andrew Orr of Co. Londonderry and educated at Bath College and the Royal Military College, Woolwich.

Military career

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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.[2] Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War later that year, in March 1900 he was seconded for service in South Africa.[3] He was later promoted to the rank of major.

Colonial service

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In 1903 he became the British Resident in Northern Nigeria. From 1911 to 1917 he was Chief Secretary to the Government of Cyprus .[4] and from 1919 to 1926 Colonial Secretary of Gibraltar.[5] He was made CMG in 1921.[6]

He served as Governor of the Bahamas from 1926 to 1932 and was knighted KCMG in 1928.[7][8][9]

Personal ife

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Charles’ elder sister was the astronomer Mary Acworth Orr.[10] His daughter Lettice married Sir Allen Lane, founder of Penguin books, becoming Lady Letitia Lucy Lane.[11]

Publications

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

References

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  1. ^ Jones, P. Sources in British Political History 1900-1952 Volume 6. p. 223.
  2. ^ Hart′s Army list, 1901
  3. ^ "No. 27175". The London Gazette. 20 March 1900. p. 1878.
  4. ^ Scott-Keltie, J. The Statesmans Year Book. p. lviii.
  5. ^ 'The Making of Northern Nigeria', Sir Charles Orr, 'Introduction to the Second Edition' p.16 (1965)
  6. ^ "No. 32178". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1921. p. 6.
  7. ^ "No. 14301". The Edinburgh Gazette. 11 January 1927. p. 11.
  8. ^ "No. 33343". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1928. p. 5.
  9. ^ "The Dominions Office and Colonial Office List for 1939". Trove Australia. 1 January 1939. p. 406. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  10. ^ "FreeCEN - UK Census Records (England, Scotland, Wales)". www.freecen.org.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  11. ^ The Making of Northern Nigeria, Introduction to the Second Edition, 1965