US Congressman. He was the son of Burton Harrison, Confederate President Jefferson Davis's private secretary, and novelist Constance Cary Harrison. He graduated from Yale University in 1895 and New York Law School in 1897, and then became an attorney while also teaching at his alma mater. He was commissioned in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War, serving as a Captain of Volunteers and an Assistant Adjutant General. He resumed his law practice after his honorable discharge, and in 1902 he was elected as a Democrat to represent New York’s 13th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1903 to 1905. In 1904 he unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, and in 1906 he was again elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing this time New York’s 16th Congressional District. He served this time from 1907 until resigned in 1913 to accept appointment as Governor-General of the Philippines Territory. He served in that role until 1921, after which he resided in Scotland for a time before returning to the United States, then to the Philippine Islands. Much of his later career was involved with the Philippines, serving in various roles such as adviser to the President of the country, as United States Commissioner of Claims in Manila, and an adviser to Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower about the islands. He passed away in Flemington, New Jersey in 1957, and was buried in Manila, where he resided for much of his life.

US Congressman. He was the son of Burton Harrison, Confederate President Jefferson Davis's private secretary, and novelist Constance Cary Harrison. He graduated from Yale University in 1895 and New York Law School in 1897, and then became an attorney while also teaching at his alma mater. He was commissioned in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War, serving as a Captain of Volunteers and an Assistant Adjutant General. He resumed his law practice after his honorable discharge, and in 1902 he was elected as a Democrat to represent New York’s 13th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1903 to 1905. In 1904 he unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, and in 1906 he was again elected to the United States House of Representatives, representing this time New York’s 16th Congressional District. He served this time from 1907 until resigned in 1913 to accept appointment as Governor-General of the Philippines Territory. He served in that role until 1921, after which he resided in Scotland for a time before returning to the United States, then to the Philippine Islands. Much of his later career was involved with the Philippines, serving in various roles such as adviser to the President of the country, as United States Commissioner of Claims in Manila, and an adviser to Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower about the islands. He passed away in Flemington, New Jersey in 1957, and was buried in Manila, where he resided for much of his life.

Bio by: Bill McKern