Thomas L. Harris

Infobox Congressman
honorific-prefix =
name = Thomas L. Harris
honorific-suffix =


state3 = Illinois
district3 = 7th congressional
term_start3 = 1849
term_end3 = 1851
preceded3 = Richard Yates
succeeded3 = Abraham Lincoln
state4 = Illinois
district4 = 6th congressional
term_start4 = 1855
term_end4 = 1858
preceded4 = John Alexander McClernand
succeeded4 = James C. Allen
birth_date = 29 October 1816
birth_place = Norwich, Connecticut, USA
death_date = 24 November 1858
death_place = Springfield, Illinois, USA
restingplace = Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois, USA
restingplacecoordinates =
birthname = Thomas Langrell Harris
nationality = American
party = Democratic Party
spouse =
partner =
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = Washington College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
occupation = Congressman, School commissioner
profession = Lawyer, Politician
religion =


allegiance = United States
branch = Fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
serviceyears = 1846–48
rank =
unit =
commands = Branch Commander
battles = Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico.
awards = Sword for gallantry by the State of Illinois.

Thomas Langrell Harris (October 29, 1816 - November 24, 1858) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Early Life

Born 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

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

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 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

Harris was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849-March 3, 1851).He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress. He was not a candidate in 1852.

Harris was elected to the Thirty-fourth 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.

Death

He died in Springfield, Illinois, November 24, 1858.

He was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois.

References