John Harris (politician)

John Harris (born September 26, 1760 in Harris Ferry , Province of Pennsylvania , † November 1824 in Bridgeport , New York ) was an American politician . Between 1807 and 1809 he represented New York State in the US House of Representatives . Congressman Robert Harris was his cousin.

Life

John Harris was born during the British colonial era. He moved to Aurelias in Onondaga County (now Cayuga County ) in 1789 . There he operated the first ferry on Cayuga Lake . He acted as an interpreter for Indians and opened the first shop and tavern in Cayuga County in 1789. In 1806 he was appointed Colonel in the New York Militia .

As an opponent of an overly strong central government, he joined the Democratic-Republican Party founded by Thomas Jefferson at that time . In the congressional elections of 1806 for the 10th Congress he was elected to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC in the 17th electoral district of New York , where he succeeded Silas Halsey on March 4, 1807 . He retired from the after March 3, 1809 Congress of.

During the British-American War he commanded the 158th New York Regiment . He died in Bridgeport near Seneca Falls in November 1824 and was buried there in the local cemetery.

Web links

• John Harris in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• John Harris in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• John Harris at The Political Graveyard