Born in Norwich, Connecticut, Harris pursued classical studies and was graduated from Washington (now Trinity) College, Hartford, Connecticut, in 1841 where he studied law.
During the Mexican–American War, he raised and commanded a company and joined the Fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Harris was subsequently elected major of the regiment. Whilst absent and with the US Army, Harris was elected a member of the State senate in 1846. He was presented with a sword by the State of Illinois for gallantry at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico.
Later political careeredit
Harris was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851), succeeding future president Abraham Lincoln, who did not run for re-election after his one term in the House. Harris was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress.
He was not a candidate in 1852, but was elected to the Thirty-fourth Congress and Thirty-fifth Congresses and served from March 4, 1855, until his death. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Thirty-fourth Congress), Committee on Elections (Thirty-fifth Congress) and was re-elected to the Thirty-sixth Congress.
Legacyedit
Harristown Township, Macon County, Illinois and the Village of Harristown [formerly Summit] were named in his honor.
^Palmer, John M. (1938). "Thomas Langrell Harris: A Biography by Stephen A. Douglas and James Shields". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 31 (2): 160–165. ISSN 0019-2287.
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For the spiritualist see Thomas Lake Harris For other people named Thomas Harris see Thomas Harris disambiguation This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Thomas L Harris news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2024 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2024 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Thomas Langrell Harris October 29 1816 November 24 1858 was an American lawyer who was a soldier in the United States Army and U S Representative from Illinois in the mid 19th Century 1 Thomas L HarrisMember of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 7th districtIn office March 4 1849 March 3 1851Preceded byAbraham LincolnSucceeded byRichard YatesMember of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 6th districtIn office March 4 1855 November 24 1858Preceded byJohn Alexander McClernandSucceeded byCharles D HodgesPersonal detailsBornThomas Langrell Harris 1816 10 20 October 20 1816Norwich Connecticut USDiedNovember 24 1858 1858 11 24 aged 42 Springfield Illinois USResting placeRose Hill Cemetery Petersburg Illinois USPolitical partyDemocraticAlma materWashington CollegeOccupationCongressman School commissionerProfessionLawyer PoliticianAwardsSword for gallantry by the State of Illinois Military serviceAllegianceUnited States of AmericaBranch serviceUS ArmyYears of service1846 1847RankMajorUnit4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentBattles warsBattle of Cerro GordoHarris was decorated for bravery at the Battle of Cerro Gordo during the Mexican American War and served in Congress as a Democrat Contents 1 Early life 1 1 Early career 2 Military service 3 Later political career 3 1 Legacy 4 Death 5 See also 6 ReferencesEarly life editBorn in Norwich Connecticut Harris pursued classical studies and was graduated from Washington now Trinity College Hartford Connecticut in 1841 where he studied law Early career edit He was admitted to the bar in 1842 and commenced practice in Petersburg Illinois He was made School commissioner for Menard County in 1845 Military service editDuring the Mexican American War he raised and commanded a company and joined the Fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry Harris was subsequently elected major of the regiment Whilst absent and with the US Army Harris was elected a member of the State senate in 1846 He was presented with a sword by the State of Illinois for gallantry at the Battle of Cerro Gordo Mexico Later political career editHarris was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty first Congress March 4 1849 March 3 1851 succeeding future president Abraham Lincoln who did not run for re election after his one term in the House Harris was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty second Congress He was not a candidate in 1852 but was elected to the Thirty fourth Congress and Thirty fifth Congresses and served from March 4 1855 until his death He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy Thirty fourth Congress Committee on Elections Thirty fifth Congress and was re elected to the Thirty sixth Congress Legacy edit Harristown Township Macon County Illinois and the Village of Harristown formerly Summit were named in his honor Death editHarris died in Springfield Illinois November 24 1858 and is interred in Rose Hill Cemetery Petersburg Illinois He has a cenotaph at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC but is not buried there See also editList of United States Congress members who died in office 1790 1899 References edit Palmer John M 1938 Thomas Langrell Harris A Biography by Stephen A Douglas and James Shields Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 31 2 160 165 ISSN 0019 2287 United States Congress Thomas L Harris id H000255 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byAbraham Lincoln Member of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 7th congressional district1849 1851 Succeeded byRichard YatesPreceded byJohn A McClernand Member of the U S House of Representatives from Illinois s 6th congressional district1855 1858 Succeeded byJames C Allen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas L Harris amp oldid 1199141416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
