Sir
David Orr
MC*
7th Chancellor of the Queen's University, Belfast
In office
1992–1998
Preceded bySir Rowland Wright
Succeeded byGeorge J. Mitchell
Personal details
Born(1922-05-10)10 May 1922
Dalkey, County Dublin, Ireland
Died2 February 2008(2008-02-02) (aged 85)
Spouse
Phoebe Davis
​
(m. 1949)​
Children3
Alma materTrinity College, Dublin
Military service
Branch/serviceRoyal Ulster Rifles
Years of service1941-1945

Sir David Alexander Orr MC* (10 May 1922 in Dalkey, County Dublin – 2 February 2008) was an Anglo-Irish businessman, philanthropist and World War II veteran.

Early years

Orr was born the third of four children to Canon A.W.F. Orr, an Anglican rector at Canon of Christ Church Cathedral.[1] David Orr attended The High School, Dublin and went on to study Classics at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was a boxer and captain of rugby.[1][2]

World War II

In 1941, he left school to enlist in the Royal Ulster Rifles and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers, serving with Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners during the reconquest of Burma in 1944-45.[1][2] He was awarded two Military Crosses.[2]

Unilever

After the war, Orr returned to Trinity to complete a degree in Law.[2] He joined Unilever as a graduate trainee.[1] From 1955 to 1966 he was posted to Unilever's India subsidiary, Hindustan Lever.[1] He returned to London before moving to New York to become president of Lever Bros in 1965. He retired in 1982.[1]

Inchcape

Orr later became chairman of Inchcape, a trading group.[2] He also sat on the boards of RTZ and Shell Transport & Trading.[2] From 1983-89, Orr was a member of the court of the Bank of Ireland.[2]

Top Salaries Review

He was a member of Harold Wilson's "committee to review the functioning of financial institutions" (1977–80). Later he served on the Top Salaries Review Body (civil service) and the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body, negotiating directly with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.[3]

Globe Theatre

In 1982, Orr had also been asked to help rebuild the Globe Theatre.[1][2] As chairman of the Globe Theatre Trust he had been a brilliant fundraiser.[2] The building was finally completed in 1997.[2]

Honours

Orr was knighted in 1977.[1] In 1979, he was appointed a Commander of the Dutch Order of Orange Nassau.[2]

Affiliations

Sports

A boxer and rugby player, in London he played rugby centre for London Irish, captaining the club in 1951-52; he also had a trial for Ireland.

Personal life

In 1949, he married Phoebe Davis, with whom he had three daughters, all of whom survive Orr, who died in 2008, aged 85, from undisclosed causes.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Sir David Orr: Unilever chairman who helped recreate Shakespeare's". The Independent. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Sir David Orr". The Telegraph. 29 February 2008. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Sir David Orr". The Times. 11 March 2008. Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
Academic offices Preceded bySir Rowland Wright Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast 1992–1998 Succeeded bySenator George Mitchell
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