Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 25.djvu/11

 , which was afterwards published under the title of ‘The Manchester Socinian Controversy,’ and indirectly caused the famous Dame Hewley suit [see ].

In September 1825 Harris resigned his charge in Bolton, and removed to Glasgow, his wife's native place. He preferred the call to Glasgow to one from London, ‘because,’ he said, ‘he wished to stand in the front of the battle.’ The evangelical revival led by Chalmers was then at its height, but Harris attracted immense audiences, and during the sixteen years of his Glasgow ministry obtained for unitarian principles a position of prominence not hitherto reached in Scotland.

In 1841 Harris removed to Edinburgh to assist in reviving the unitarian congregation. He laboured for four years, though not so successfully as in Glasgow, and in 1845 he accepted an invitation to become the minister of Hanover Square Chapel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Here he showed much of his youthful enthusiasm and energy; he was eminently successful, a handsome and commodious church being erected in 1854, and a large congregation gathered. He died on 24 Dec. 1859.

Harris was constantly writing, lecturing, or preaching, and advocating Sunday-schools, benevolent funds, tract and book societies, and institutions for mutual improvement. He threw himself into many political and sanitary, educational, and moral movements. He was a keen radical, active for the repeal of the corn laws, on behalf of which he drew up the first petition sent from Scotland. Upon the Rathcormac ‘massacre’ in Ireland in the seizure of tithes (18 Dec. 1834), he denounced church establishments with great vigour, and took an active share in promoting many other movements. Though decidedly combative, he was naturally genial and warm-hearted. He had a fine presence, a clear, forcible style, and much natural oratory. In Scotland he was called ‘the devil's chaplain,’ to which it was replied: ‘The Prince of Darkness must be a gentleman if his chaplains are like George Harris.’ His chief publications, in addition to the works already named, were: 1. ‘The Great Business of Life,’ 1847. 2. ‘Christian Unitarianism New Testament Christianity,’ 1848. 3. ‘The Doctrine of the Trinity,’ 1853. 4. ‘The Christian Character, as illustrated in the Life and Labours of the late Rev. William Turner,’ 1859. For twenty-one years Harris was editor of the ‘Christian Pilot and Pioneer.’

[Christian Reformer and Christian Freeman, 1860; North of England papers at the time of Mr. Harris's death; Record of Unitarian Worthies, 1874.]  HARRIS, GEORGE FRANCIS ROBERT, third (1810–1872), governor of Madras, grandson of Sir George Harris [q. v.], the first baron, was born at Belmont, Kent, 14 Aug. 1810. His father, William George Harris [q. v.], the second baron, was a general in the army. Harris was educated successively at Eton; at a private tutor's (the Rev. John Shaw, at Potton, Bedfordshire), where he began a lifelong friendship with Charles John Canning, afterwards Earl Canning [q. v.]; and at Oxford, where he matriculated at Merton College 2 Feb. 1829. He soon migrated to Christ Church, where he proceeded B.A. in 1832, and was in later life created D.C.L. (1863). At Christ Church Harris was contemporary with Lords Elgin, Dalhousie, and Canning. After taking his degree Harris fell into delicate health, and resided for some time at Pau, where he received a testimonial from the British residents for services in connection with the work of the church of England. Succeeding to the peerage in 1845, he was sent in the following year to Trinidad as governor. In 1854 he was appointed governor of Madras; during his rule there the police administration underwent thorough reform. Later on the sepoy revolt and its consequences distracted Upper India, and, for a moment, threatened to involve the Deccan in political rebellion (Despatch of Major C. Davidson, dated 2 Aug.) In spite of this serious danger Harris forwarded important reinforcements to his friend Canning, and the Madras fusiliers played a very prominent part in the recovery of Cawnpore and Lucknow.

Trotter describes Harris as ‘an able and fearless ruler in a time of need’ (India under Victoria, ii. 119). In 1859 he returned to England and was made a G.C.S.I. Harris, who had attracted the especial regard of the prince consort, was, by the particular request of the dying prince, made chamberlain to the Princess of Wales on her marriage. Harris was a whig, but did not take an active part in politics; he was for some time deputy-chairman of the London, Chatham, and Dover railway, and died at Belmont, the seat of his family, on 23 Nov. 1872. He was a typical English gentleman, honourable, brave, and manly; somewhat reserved in manner, and faithful to all his duties. He married, 16 April 1850, Sarah, daughter of George Cummins, archdeacon of Trinidad; by her he had one daughter, and an only son, George Robert Canning Harris, who succeeded him, and is now (1894) governor of Bombay.