Orr was the son of Hugh Orr, a Scottish-born gunsmith and politician.[1] He attended the public schools in Westmoreland County and Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He later moved to Kittanning, where he was elected to the post of Deputy Sheriff for Armstrong County in 1805.[2] He studied surveying and was appointed deputy district surveyor.
Orr served in the War of 1812, where he rose to the rank of colonel in the US Army.
In 1826 Orr successfully ran for re-election, to the Twentieth Congress. He served in that capacity from October 11, 1825 to March 3, 1829.
Military career
After the War of 1812 Orr retained his interest in military affairs. He eventually attained the rank of general.[5]
Later life
Orr resided for a short while in Orrsville in 1845,[6] and lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania from 1848 to 1852. He returned to Kittanning, where he died in 1876. He was buried in the Kittanning Cemetery.[7]