James Lawrence Orr was born in Craytonville, Anderson County, South Carolina on May 12, 1822. An attorney, he served as a representative in the U.S. Congress from 1849-1859. He later served as a Confederate Senator, and as the Governor of South Carolina from 1865-1868. He then became the U.S. Minister to Russia in 1872. He died in St. Petersburg, Russia on May 5, 1873.