Richard Harison
Encyclopedia
Richard Harison was an American lawyer and Federalist politician from New York
.
) and Jane (Nicholls) Harison. He graduated A.B.
from King's College in 1764. He married Maria Jones, and their son was George Folliott Harison (1776–1846), the namesake of "Harison's Yellow Rose".
He practiced law in New York City
in partnership with Alexander Hamilton
. On September 4, 1783, Harison married Frances Duncan Ludlow (1766–1797; daughter of George Duncan Ludlow
), and they had four children.
Harison was Deputy Grand Master of Masons of New York from 1786 to 1788. He was a delegate to the New York Convention which adopted the United States Constitution
in 1788, and voted for adoption. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1788 and 1788-89.
In 1789, Harison was appointed by President George Washington
as the first United States Attorney for the District of New York
. He remained in office until 1801, and was also Recorder of New York City
from 1798 to 1801.
He was buried in a family vault in Trinity Church Cemetery
.
(1791), Richard Harison purchased great lots 6 and 9 in what would become Franklin County. These land owners initially named their sections after themselves, but "Harison" eventually became the Town of Malone
. In 1808, Harison changed the name of the village he had founded to "Ezraville," after his friend Ezra L'Hommedieu
. In 1812, Harison again changed the name of his village, to "Malone," after Edmond Malone
, an Irish Shakespearean scholar. The Harison House is located on Webster Street in Malone, across from the cemetery, and is designated with a New York State historical marker.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of George Harison (son of Francis HarisonFrancis Harison
-Life:He was the son of Rev. William Harison, Rector of Cheriton, England. He came to New York about 1710.On October 5, 1721, Harison was appointed Judge of Admiralty for New York, Connecticut and the Jerseys, in place of Caleb Heathcote, deceased. Harison was Recorder of New York City from 1725 to...
) and Jane (Nicholls) Harison. He graduated A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from King's College in 1764. He married Maria Jones, and their son was George Folliott Harison (1776–1846), the namesake of "Harison's Yellow Rose".
He practiced law in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in partnership with Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
. On September 4, 1783, Harison married Frances Duncan Ludlow (1766–1797; daughter of George Duncan Ludlow
George Duncan Ludlow
George Duncan Ludlow was lawyer and a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of the British Province of New York in the Thirteen Colonies who became the first Chief Justice of New Brunswick in Canada....
), and they had four children.
Harison was Deputy Grand Master of Masons of New York from 1786 to 1788. He was a delegate to the New York Convention which adopted the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
in 1788, and voted for adoption. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1788 and 1788-89.
In 1789, Harison was appointed by President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
as the first United States Attorney for the District of New York
United States Attorney for the District of New York
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New York was from 1789 to 1815 the chief federal law enforcement officer in the federal judicial District of New York, which at that time was coterminous with the whole State of New York. In 1814, the District of New York was split into the Northern and the...
. He remained in office until 1801, and was also Recorder of New York City
Recorder of New York City
The Recorder of New York City was a municipal officer of New York City from 1683 until the early 20th century. He was at times a judge of the Court of General Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, and the New York Court of Common Pleas; Vice-President of the Board of Supervisors of New York...
from 1798 to 1801.
He was buried in a family vault in Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery consists of three separate burial grounds associated with Trinity Church in Manhattan, New York, USA. The first was established in the Churchyard located at 74 Trinity Place at Wall Street and Broadway...
.
Legacy
Among the new proprietors of large tracts of land in Northern New York that had been part of the Macomb PurchaseMacomb's Purchase
Macomb's Purchase is a large historical area of northern New York, USA purchased from the state in 1791 by Alexander Macomb, who had become rich as a merchant in the American Revolution.-History and geography:...
(1791), Richard Harison purchased great lots 6 and 9 in what would become Franklin County. These land owners initially named their sections after themselves, but "Harison" eventually became the Town of Malone
Malone (town), New York
Malone is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The population was 14,545 at the 2010 census.The Town of Malone contains a village called Malone, which is the county seat. The town is an interior town, centrally located in the county....
. In 1808, Harison changed the name of the village he had founded to "Ezraville," after his friend Ezra L'Hommedieu
Ezra L'Hommedieu
Ezra L'Hommedieu was an American lawyer and statesman from Southold, New York. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1783 and again in 1788...
. In 1812, Harison again changed the name of his village, to "Malone," after Edmond Malone
Edmond Malone
Edmond Malone was an Irish Shakespearean scholar and editor of the works of William Shakespeare.Assured of an income after the death of his father in 1774, Malone was able to give up his law practice for at first political and then more congenial literary pursuits. He went to London, where he...
, an Irish Shakespearean scholar. The Harison House is located on Webster Street in Malone, across from the cemetery, and is designated with a New York State historical marker.
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 55 and 279; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- Richard Harison genealogy at North County website
- Trinity Church burial records