Andrew Picken Orr

Andrew Picken Orr FRSE ARIC (1898–1962) was a 20th-century Scottish oceanographer and was an expert on phytoplankton and copepod biology.

Early life and education Orr was born in Ayrshire on 6 August 1898. He was educated at Kilmarnock Academy before enrolling at the University of Glasgow. His university education was interrupted by the First World War. He joined Glasgow's University Officers' Training Corps before being commissioned with the Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1917, serving as a Second Lieutenant. He served in France and was wounded in action then captured as a prisoner-of-war.

In 1923 he became a chemist at the Millport Research Station and in 1928 was part of the Great Barrier Reef Expedition (led by Sir Maurice Yonge) with Sheina Marshall, subsequently working with her for around 40 years in total. During the Second World War, they worked with Lily Newton and Elsie Conway on sourcing of pharmaceutical agar from UK marine algae. Orr rose to be Deputy Director of the station and was acting director at the time of his death.

Personal life Orr was married to his wife Rachel, with whom he had one son and one daughter. He died on 19 September 1962, survived by his wife and children.

Publications With Sheina Marshall: 1931 - 1955 - 1955 - On the Biology of Calanus Finmarchicus 1969 - With Sheina Marshall and Lily Newton: 1949 -