Charles Harris (1772 – March 17, 1827) was a British-born lawyer who emigrated to the United States. He served two-and-a-half terms as mayor of Savannah, Georgia. He was also a slave owner. Savannah's Harris Street is named for him, as is
Harris County, Georgia
Harris County is a county located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia; its western border with the state of Alabama is formed by the Chattahoochee River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,668. The county seat ...
.
Life and career
Harris was born in England in 1772 to William Harris, a barrister and first cousin to Lord Malmesbury, and Elizabeth Dymock.
After being educated in France, he emigrated to the United States at the age of sixteen, settling in
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Brita ...
, where he studied law under Samuel Stirk. He opened is own practice in 1793.
In 1798, he married Catherine McCauley McIntosh, youngest daughter of
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
hero
Lachlan McIntosh
Lachlan McIntosh (March 17, 1725 – February 20, 1806) was a Scottish American military and political leader during the American Revolution
The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in whic ...
. They had three known children: Sarah Elizabeth (1809), Catherine Virginia (1811) and McIntosh (1814). Sarah died at the age of 20 or 21, Catherine died aged four, and McIntosh after eighteen days.
After serving as an alderman in 1801, Harris served as mayor of Savannah from 1802 to 1804 and from 1807 to 1808, two-and-a-half terms in total. He was also twice elected to the Judgeship of the Eastern Circuit, but declined on both occasions.
Catherine died in 1815, aged 35 or 36, which partly precipitated Harris' semi-retirement from public affairs.
After the Savannah fire of January 1820, which destroyed all properties between
Bay Street
Bay Street is a major thoroughfare in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the centre of Toronto's Financial District, Toronto, Financial District and is often used by metonymy to refer to Economy of Canada, Canada's financial services indust ...
Abercorn Street
Abercorn Street is a prominent street in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Located between Drayton Street to the west and Lincoln Street to the east, it runs for about from East Bay Street (Savannah, Georgia), Bay Street in the north to Georgi ...
, he offered his property as a shelter for those made homeless.
Death and legacy
Harris died on March 17, 1827, aged 54 or 55. He is interred in the Lachlan McIntosh family vault in Savannah's
Colonial Park Cemetery
Colonial Park Cemetery (locally and informally known as Colonial Cemetery; historically known as the Old Cemetery
At the time of his death, Harris owned seven slaves and kept another seventeen at his plantation on Skidaway Island.
Savannah's Harris Street was named for him, as is
Harris County, Georgia
Harris County is a county located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia; its western border with the state of Alabama is formed by the Chattahoochee River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,668. The county seat ...