Rate My Professor Sydney Orr

Sydney Sparkes Orr (1914–1966) was a philosopher appointed Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tasmania in 1952. Born on 6 December 1914 in Belfast, Ireland, he earned a BA with first-class honours in Philosophy and an MA with special commendation at Queen’s University, Belfast. In 1946 he was appointed acting lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne, obtaining a permanent lectureship the following year.

Orr served as Professor of Philosophy at the University of Tasmania until his summary dismissal in 1956 following a Royal Commission into the university, which he had helped initiate through an open letter to the Premier in 1954. The dismissal, related to allegations he denied, led to prolonged legal proceedings in which Orr was unsuccessful in the Tasmanian Supreme Court and the High Court of Australia. He received financial compensation from the university in 1966, shortly before his death on 15 July 1966. The case prompted reforms including strengthened tenure provisions at the institution.