William J. Harris
Encyclopedia
William Julius Harris was a United States Senator from the state of Georgia
. He was a great-grandson of Charles Hooks
, who had been a Representative from North Carolina
, and son-in-law of Joseph Wheeler
, Confederate General and Representative from Alabama
.
in Polk County
, Georgia
, and attended the common schools and graduated from the University of Georgia
at Athens
in 1890. He engaged in the general insurance
business and banking at Cedartown, and served as private secretary to U.S. Senator Alexander S. Clay
from 1904 to 1909. He was then a member of the Georgia Senate
in 1911 and 1912. From 1913 to 1915 he was Director of the United States Census Bureau
; in 1915 he resigned to become a member of the Federal Trade Commission
. Harris was Acting Secretary of the Department of Commerce from 1913 to 1915 and a member of the Federal Trade Commission 1915-1918, when he resigned to become a candidate for the U.S. Senate. He was chairman of the commission 1917-1918. In 1918, he was elected as a Democrat to the Senate, and reelected in 1924 and 1930; his service was from March 4, 1919 until his death. While in the Senate, Harris was a member of the National Forest Reservation Commission from 1929 to 1932. He died of a heart attack
in Washington, D.C.
, and funeral services were held in the Chamber of the United States Senate. His interment was in Greenwood Cemetery in Cedartown.
After Harris' death in 1932, the governor of Georgia, Richard Russell, Jr.
, declared a special election for September of that year to fill the vacant seat. Russell also declared himself a candidate and went on to win the election to replace Harris.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He was a great-grandson of Charles Hooks
Charles Hooks
Charles Hooks was a United States Representative from North Carolina; born in Bertie County, North Carolina, February 20, 1768; when he was two years old his parents moved to Duplin County, North Carolina and settled on a plantation near Kenansville; became a planter; member of the State house of...
, who had been a Representative from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and son-in-law of Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
, Confederate General and Representative from Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Early life
Harris was born in CedartownCedartown, Georgia
Cedartown is a city in Polk County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,750. The city is the county seat of Polk County...
in Polk County
Polk County, Georgia
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 38,127. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 41,460. The county seat is Cedartown.- History :...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and attended the common schools and graduated from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
at Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
in 1890. He engaged in the general insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
business and banking at Cedartown, and served as private secretary to U.S. Senator Alexander S. Clay
Alexander S. Clay
Alexander Stephens Clay was a United States Senator from Georgia.Clay was born in Powder Springs, Georgia, and graduated from Hiwassee College in Tennessee in 1875. He was admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced practice in Marietta, Georgia...
from 1904 to 1909. He was then a member of the Georgia Senate
Georgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
in 1911 and 1912. From 1913 to 1915 he was Director of the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
; in 1915 he resigned to become a member of the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
. Harris was Acting Secretary of the Department of Commerce from 1913 to 1915 and a member of the Federal Trade Commission 1915-1918, when he resigned to become a candidate for the U.S. Senate. He was chairman of the commission 1917-1918. In 1918, he was elected as a Democrat to the Senate, and reelected in 1924 and 1930; his service was from March 4, 1919 until his death. While in the Senate, Harris was a member of the National Forest Reservation Commission from 1929 to 1932. He died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and funeral services were held in the Chamber of the United States Senate. His interment was in Greenwood Cemetery in Cedartown.
After Harris' death in 1932, the governor of Georgia, Richard Russell, Jr.
Richard Russell, Jr.
Richard Brevard Russell, Jr. was a Democratic Party politician from the southeastern state of Georgia. He served as state governor from 1931 to 1933 and United States senator from 1933 to 1971....
, declared a special election for September of that year to fill the vacant seat. Russell also declared himself a candidate and went on to win the election to replace Harris.