BENJAMIN ORR

(1762 – 1822)

4th mayor of the District, born about 1762 in Virginia. He was a prominent merchant in Georgetown and contractor to the federal government providing supplies to the army in Ohio and Michigan. He was first elected to the city government in 1812 and worked for public improvements such as the first D.C. volunteer fire company. He was elected Mayor of the D.C. (1817-1819) and one of his final acts was to authorize a lottery to raise money to build the city hall and a penitentiary. He and his wife’s graves are unmarked in the oldest section of Congressional Cemetery.

Image Courtesy of: D.C. Historical Society

Orr School, Original
2200 Minnesota Ave. S.E.

Built 1902, Razed 19??

Image Courtesy of: Sumner School Museum

Orr School, New
2200 Minnesota Ave. S.E.

Built 19??

Congressional Cemetery
Range 28 Site 15