Benjamin Winslow HARRIS, Congress, MA (1823-1907)

HARRIS, Benjamin Winslow, (father of Robert Orr Harris), a Representative from Massachusetts; born in East Bridgewater, Mass., November 10, 1823; pursued an academic course and was graduated from Dane Law School, Harvard University, in 1849; was admitted to the bar in Boston in 1850 and commenced practice in East Bridgewater; served in the State senate in 1857; member of the State house of representatives in 1858; district attorney for the southeastern district of Massachusetts from July 1, 1858, to June 30, 1866; collector of internal revenue for the second district of Massachusetts from June 30, 1866, to March 1, 1873; elected as a Republican to the Forty-third and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1873-March 3, 1883); chairman, Committee on Naval Affairs (Forty-seventh Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1882; resumed the practice of law in East Bridgewater, Plymouth County; judge of probate for the county of Plymouth 1887-1906; died in East Bridgewater, Mass., on February 7, 1907; interment in Union Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present