Engineer, industrialist and philanthropist. Born in Dundee, Orchar became draughtsman to Steele's Lilybank Foundry, but with William Robertson (1825-99) took over the Wallace Foundry and the pair went on to develop the well-known firm of textile machinery manufacturers, Robertson & Orchar. This company was responsible for designing and equipping numerous jute and flax mills in E Scotland, as well as supplying machinery internationally.
For many year Orchar served as Provost of Broughty Ferry and was noted for acquiring and laying out Reres Hill and Orchar Park for the citizens of that burgh, at some considerable personal expense.
Orchar acquired an internationally-renowned collection of paintings, mainly by Scottish artists, and established the annual fine art exhibitions held in Dundee from 1877 to 1891. He was also an accomplished amateur artist.
Orchar died in Broughty Ferry. He bequeathed his art collection to Broughty Ferry and, for many years, the collection occupied the Orchar Gallery there.
