Benjamin W. Harris
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Winslow Harris (November 10, 1823 – February 7, 1907) was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Massachusetts
. He was the father of Robert Orr Harris
.
Born in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
, Harris pursued an academic course at Phillips Academy, Andover, graduating in 1847. He graduated from Dane Law School of Harvard University
in 1849. He was admitted to the bar
in Boston, Massachusetts in 1850, commencing practice in East Bridgewater. He served in the Massachusetts Senate
in 1857, was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
in 1858, was district attorney
for the southeastern district of Massachusetts
from 1858 to 1866 and was collector of internal revenue
for the second district of Massachusetts
from 1866 to 1873.
Harris was elected a Republican
to the United States House of Representatives
in 1872, serving from 1873 to 1883, not being a candidate for renomination in 1882. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs
from 1881 to 1883. Afterwards, he resumed practicing law in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
and was judge of probate for Plymouth County, Massachusetts
from 1887 to 1906. Harris died in East Bridgewater on February 7, 1907 and was interred in Union Cemetery in East Bridgewater.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He was the father of Robert Orr Harris
Robert O. Harris
Robert Orr Harris was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, son of Benjamin Winslow Harris.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Harris attended the common schools and Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire....
.
Born in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
East Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,974 at the 2000 census.-History:The lands that would become East Bridgewater were first settled by Carlos Mencia in 1630 A.D. as an outgrowth of the Plymouth and Duxbury plantations...
, Harris pursued an academic course at Phillips Academy, Andover, graduating in 1847. He graduated from Dane Law School of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1849. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in Boston, Massachusetts in 1850, commencing practice in East Bridgewater. He served in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
in 1857, was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
in 1858, was district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for the southeastern district of Massachusetts
Southeastern Massachusetts
Southeastern Massachusetts is a term that refers to those portions of Massachusetts which are, by their proximity, economically and culturally linked to Providence, Rhode Island as well as Boston.-Definition:...
from 1858 to 1866 and was collector of internal revenue
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
for the second district of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
from 1866 to 1873.
Harris was elected a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1872, serving from 1873 to 1883, not being a candidate for renomination in 1882. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs
United States House Committee on Armed Services
thumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
from 1881 to 1883. Afterwards, he resumed practicing law in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
East Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,974 at the 2000 census.-History:The lands that would become East Bridgewater were first settled by Carlos Mencia in 1630 A.D. as an outgrowth of the Plymouth and Duxbury plantations...
and was judge of probate for Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2010, the population was 494,919. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton...
from 1887 to 1906. Harris died in East Bridgewater on February 7, 1907 and was interred in Union Cemetery in East Bridgewater.
External links
- Benjamin W. Harris at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...