George L. Harrison
Encyclopedia
George Leslie Harrison (January 26, 1887 – March 5, 1958) was an American
banker, insurance executive and advisor to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
during World War II
.
Born in San Francisco, California
, he was educated at Yale University
and Harvard Law School
. In 1909, at Yale, he was elected to the Skull and Bones
secret society. After earning his law degree, Harrison became law clerk
for one year to U.S. Supreme Court
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
.
After serving as general counsel to the Federal Reserve Board, Harrison served as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
for 13 years, leaving in 1941 to become president of New York Life Insurance Company
. During World War II
, he was Secretary Henry L. Stimson
's special assistant for matters relating to the development of the atomic bomb. He served with Stimson on the eight-member Interim Committee
which examined problems expected to result from the bomb's creation and which recommended direct military use of the bomb against Japan
without specific warning. Harrison chaired the committee when Stimson was absent.
Harrison returned to his position at New York Life after the war, becoming chairman of the company's board in 1948. He died in 1958 and is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery
in Washington, DC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
banker, insurance executive and advisor to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
Henry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Born in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he was educated at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. In 1909, at Yale, he was elected to the Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
secret society. After earning his law degree, Harrison became law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for one year to U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1902 to 1932...
.
After serving as general counsel to the Federal Reserve Board, Harrison served as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks of the United States. It is located at 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY. It is responsible for the Second District of the Federal Reserve System, which encompasses New York state, the 12 northern counties of New Jersey,...
for 13 years, leaving in 1941 to become president of New York Life Insurance Company
New York Life Insurance Company
The New York Life Insurance Company is one of the largest mutual life-insurance companies in the United States, and one of the largest life insurers in the world, with about $287 billion in total assets under management, and more than $15 billion in surplus and AVR...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was Secretary Henry L. Stimson
Henry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk...
's special assistant for matters relating to the development of the atomic bomb. He served with Stimson on the eight-member Interim Committee
Interim Committee
The Interim Committee was a secret high-level group created in May 1945 by United States Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson at the urging of leaders of the Manhattan Project and with the approval of President Harry S. Truman to advise on matters pertaining to nuclear energy...
which examined problems expected to result from the bomb's creation and which recommended direct military use of the bomb against Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
without specific warning. Harrison chaired the committee when Stimson was absent.
Harrison returned to his position at New York Life after the war, becoming chairman of the company's board in 1948. He died in 1958 and is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery — also Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery — is an cemetery with a natural rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE in Washington, D.C.'s Michigan Park neighborhood, near Washington's Petworth neighborhood...
in Washington, DC.