Thomas L. Harris

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Thomas L. Harris
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 7th congressional district
In office 1849 – 1851
Preceded by	Abraham Lincoln
Succeeded by	Richard Yates
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 6th congressional district
In office 1855 – 1858
Preceded by	John Alexander McClernand
Succeeded by	James C. Allen
Born	29 October 1816 Norwich, Connecticut, USA
Died	24 November 1858 Springfield, Illinois, USA
Resting place	Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois, USA
Birth name	Thomas Langrell Harris
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	Washington College, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Occupation	Congressman, School commissioner
Profession	Lawyer, Politician
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	Fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
Years of service	1846–48
Commands	Branch Commander
Battles/wars	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.

Contents 1 Early life 1.1 Early career 2 Military Service 3 Later Political Career 4 Death 5 References

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 Congress 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.

[edit] Death

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

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

He has a tombstoneat Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.

[edit] References

• Thomas L. Harris at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.