James Lawrence Orr
Encyclopedia
James Lawrence Orr was an American
politician who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
in the United States Congress
. He later served in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War
and was the 73rd Governor of South Carolina
.
.He graduated at the University of Virginia
in 1841 and became an attorney. He served as a Democratic Congressman
from South Carolina
from 1849 to 1859, serving as the
Speaker of the House from 1857 to 1859. Congressman Orr was an advocate of states' rights
who used his position of power to assist those persons who promoted the continuation of slavery. He foresaw the consequences of the decision by South Carolina
to attempt to secede from the Union
, but he remained loyal to that State. He was one of the three commissioners sent to Washington, D.C.
to negotiate the transfer of federal property to the State of South Carolina; the failure of these negotiations led directly to the bombardment of one of the highest-profile federal assets within South Carolina, Fort Sumter
.
After Fort Sumter and the outbreak of the American Civil War, the former congressman organized and commanded Orr's Regiment of South Carolina Rifles, which saw little action before he resigned in 1862 and entered the Confederate
Senate. Ironically, the regiment continued to bear his name throughout the war and fought in some of the most prominent battles of the Army of Northern Virginia
. In the Senate, he remained a strong proponent of states' rights.
At the end of the war, Orr was elected governor in 1865
of the state of South Carolina and served until 1868 with the passage of a new state constitution. He died in St. Petersburg, Russia
shortly after being named Minister to Russia by President Ulysses S. Grant
. He is interred in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Anderson, South Carolina
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He later served in the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and was the 73rd Governor of South Carolina
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
.
Biography
Orr was born at Craytonville, South Carolina located in Anderson County, South CarolinaAnderson County, South Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 187,126 people and 70,597 households residing in the county. The population density was 260.6 people per square mile . There were 84,092 housing units...
.He graduated at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1841 and became an attorney. He served as a Democratic Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
from 1849 to 1859, serving as the
Speaker of the House from 1857 to 1859. Congressman Orr was an advocate of states' rights
States' rights
States' rights in U.S. politics refers to political powers reserved for the U.S. state governments rather than the federal government. It is often considered a loaded term because of its use in opposition to federally mandated racial desegregation...
who used his position of power to assist those persons who promoted the continuation of slavery. He foresaw the consequences of the decision by South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
to attempt to secede from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
, but he remained loyal to that State. He was one of the three commissioners sent to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to negotiate the transfer of federal property to the State of South Carolina; the failure of these negotiations led directly to the bombardment of one of the highest-profile federal assets within South Carolina, Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
.
After Fort Sumter and the outbreak of the American Civil War, the former congressman organized and commanded Orr's Regiment of South Carolina Rifles, which saw little action before he resigned in 1862 and entered the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Senate. Ironically, the regiment continued to bear his name throughout the war and fought in some of the most prominent battles of the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
. In the Senate, he remained a strong proponent of states' rights.
At the end of the war, Orr was elected governor in 1865
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1865
The 1865 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on October 18, 1865 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. It was the first gubernatorial election in which the voters of South Carolina were able to directly choose the Governor as a result of the ratification of the South...
of the state of South Carolina and served until 1868 with the passage of a new state constitution. He died in St. Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
shortly after being named Minister to Russia by President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
. He is interred in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
.