Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/119

Rh of New York. He was also one of the founders of the Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals and of the Central park museum of natural history. In 1848 he planned and carried out a voyage in the South Pacific, meeting with many strange experiences among the islanders and cannibals. He was U. S. consul at Ningpo in 1854, in 1856 made a new treaty for the United States with Siam, and, on the opening of Japan by Cora. Matthew C. Perry, was selected as a fit person to follow up the work that had been begun by American diplomacy. He lived nearly two years at Kakisaki, near Shimoda, and went to Yedo to press his claims. His interpreter, Mr. Heusken, was assassinated in the street in daylight, but, with imperturbable faith in the Japanese, Mr. Harris remained in Yedo when the other diplomatists had removed, and secured in 1858 the first treaty of trade and commerce, and on 1 Jan., 1859, the opening of three ports to foreign residents. He resigned his post on the change of administration, and resided in New York until his death.

HARRIS, William, educator, b. in Springfield, Mass., 29 April, 1765 ; d. in New York city, 18 Oct., 1829. He was graduated at Harvard in 1786. Having studied theology, he was licensed as a Congregational minister, but, finding his health not equal to the work, he began the study of medicine in Salem, Mass. While he was thus occupied, a copy of Hooker's " Ecclesiastical Polity " was put into his hands. Its perusal led Mr. Harris to give up independency, and, his health having been restored, he was ordained deacon in Trinity church, New York, by Bishop Provoost, 16 Oct., 1791, and priest the following Sunday by the same bishop. His first charge was St. Michael's church, Marblehead, Mass., where he also conducted the academy. He held both offices until 1802, when he accepted the rectorship of St. Mark's church, New York city. Here also, in the vicinity of his rectory, he established an excellent classical school. In 1811 he received the degree of D. D. both from Harvard and from Columbia. On Bishop Moore's resignation of the presidency of the latter institution. Dr. Harris was chosen to succeed him in 1811, and for a few years held the office in connection with his church. In 1816 he resigned the rectorship of St. Mark's, and devoted the remainder of his life to his duties as president. Although suffering from disease in his latter years, he discharged his duties with faithfulness and diligence up to the close of his life. Dr. Harris published two sermons, one delivered before the convention of Massachusetts, the other before that of New York. He also Srinted his "Farewell Sermon" on leaving St. tark's church (1816).

HARRIS, William Logan, M. E. bishop, b. near Mansfield, Ohio, 4 Nov., 1817: d. in New York city, 2 Sept., 1887. He attended the schools about his home, and pursued a course of classical and mathematical studies at the Norwalk seminary, Ohio. He united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1834, and in September, 1837, was admitted on trial to the Michigan conference, which then included the northwestern part of Ohio. Upon the readjustment of the conference boundaries in 1840, he became a member of the north Ohio conference, and by a later subdivision he fell into the central Ohio conference. For eight years he labored in pastoral work on several circuits and stations in the northern and central parts of Ohio. In 1845 he became an instructor in the Ohio Wesleyan university. In 1846-'7 he was stationed in Toledo, and in 1848 at Norwalk. In that year he became principal of Bald- win institute, at Berea, where he remained till in 1851 he was chosen professor of chemistry and natural history in Ohio Wesleyan university. Here he continued until 1860, when he was elected by the general conference one of the corresponding secretaries of the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church, which office he held by quadrennial re-elections till May, 1872, when he was elected and ordained a bishop. He was a delegate in the general conferences for 1856, 1860, 1864, 1868, and 1872, and also the secretary of that body at each of these sessions. He received the degree of D. D. in 1856 and of LL. D. in 1870. During the years 1872-'3 he circumnavigated the globe, visiting the mission-stations of his church in Japan, China, and India, and also those in the various countries of Europe. He is recognized as an expert in Methodist church law, and has published a small work on " The Powers of the Gen- eral Conference " (1859), and conjointly with Judge William J. Henry, of Illinois, a treatise on "Ecclesiastical Law," with special reference to the government of the Methodist Episcopal church (1870).

HARRIS, William Torrey, educator, b. in North Killingly, Conn., 10 Sept., 1835. He was educated at Phillips Andover academy, and at Yale, where in 1869 he received the honorary degree of A. M. In 1868-'80 he was superintendent of public schools in St. Louis, in 1866 founded the philosophical society of St. Louis, and the next year founded and edited the &ldquo;Journal of Speculative Philosophy,&rdquo; the first of its character ever published in the United States. He was president of the National educational association in 1875, and represented the U. S. bureau of education at the International congress of educators at Brussels in 1880. Since 1884 he has been president of the Boston school-master's club, and is an active member of the Concord school of philosophy. Mr. Harris contributes constantly to magazines on art, education, and philosophy, has translated extensively from German and Italian thinkers of the advanced school, and published twelve &ldquo;Annual Reports&rdquo; on the St. Louis schools (St. Louis, 1869-'81); and a &ldquo;Statement of American Education&rdquo; (which was used at the World's expositions at Vienna and Paris); and edits &ldquo;Appletons' International Educational Series.&rdquo;

HARRISON, Benjamin, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. in Berkeley, Charles City co., Va., about 1740; d. in April, 1791. The general impression that his family was descended from Harrison the regicide appears to be erroneous. As a member of the burgesses in 1764 he served on the committee that prepared the memorials to the king, lords, and commons; but in 1765, with many other prominent men, opposed the stamp act resolutions of Henry as impolitic. He was chosen in 1773 one of the committee of correspondence which united the colonies against Great Britain in 1774, was appointed one of the delegates to congress, and was four times re-elected to a seat in that body. As a member of all the