Christopher Harris (died 1623) explained

Christopher Harris (1590–November 1623) of Lanrest in the parish of Liskeard in Cornwall, was a Member of Parliament for West Looe in Cornwall (1621). He should not be confused with his great-uncle Christopher Harris (c.1553-1625) of Radford in the parish of Plymstock in Devon, MP for Plymouth in 1584, whose heir apparent he was.

Origins

He was the eldest son and heir of John Harris (1564- June 1623) of Lanrest, Recorder of the Borough of West Looe in Cornwall and MP for West Looe in Cornwall in 1614,[1] by his wife Joane Harte, daughter and sole heiress of Robert Harte of Plimston in the parish of Stoke Climsland in Cornwall.[2]

Career

He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 15 November 1605, aged 15 and was awarded BA on 7 July 1608 and MA on 2 July 1611. He was a law student at Lincoln's Inn in 1611. In 1621 he was elected Member of Parliament for West Looe[3] in Cornwall.

Marriage

He married Gertrude Grenville, a daughter of Sir Bernard Grenville (1567-1636), MP, lord of the manors of Bideford in Devon and of Stowe in the parish of Kilkhampton, Cornwall. The marriage was without progeny.

Death, burial & succession

Harris died at the age of 33 and was buried at Plymstock on 27 November 1623.[3] He was succeeded by his younger brother John Harris (c.1596-1648), four times elected MP for Liskeard, who also inherited the estates of their great-uncle Sir Christopher Harris (c.1553-1625), MP for Plymouth in 1584,[4] of Radford in the parish of Plymstock in Devon.[5]

Notes and References

  1. [History of Parliament]
  2. [John Lambrick Vivian|Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L.]
  3. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=117064 'Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714: Harmar-Hawtayne', Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714: Abannan-Kyte (1891), pp. 652-678. Date accessed: 19 November 2011
  4. Vivian, p.447
  5. Vivian, p.448