James T. Harrison (lieutenant governor) explained

Office:Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
Termstart:January 1900
Termend:January 1904
Birth Date:21 May 1848
Birth Place:Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.
Death Place:Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Parents:James Thomas Harrison (father)
State Senate2:Mississippi State
Termstart2:January 1892
Termend2:January 1900
Termstart3:January 1884
Termend3:January 1888
District2:25th
District3:Lowndes County
State House3:Mississippi
Order:14th
Governor:Andrew H. Longino
Successor:John Prentiss Carter
Predecessor:J. H. Jones
Office1:President pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate
Termstart1:January 7, 1896
Termend1:January 2, 1900
Successor1:John R. Dinsmore
Predecessor1:Robert Aaron Dean
Successor2:S. M. Meek
Predecessor2:Pat Henry

James Thomas Harrison (May 21, 1848 – May 17, 1928) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician. He served in both houses of the Mississippi Legislature and was the Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1900 to 1904. He was also the President Pro Tempore of the Mississippi State Senate from 1896 to 1900.

Early life

James T. Harrison was born on May 21, 1848, in Columbus, Mississippi.[1] [2] [3] [4] He was the son of James Thomas Harrison. In 1863, the age of 14, Harrison enlisted in the Confederate Army to fight in the American Civil War. Harrison served until the end of the war, obtaining the rank of Sergeant, and twice refusing further promotion. Harrison attended Princeton University and then attended Washington and Lee University, graduating from the latter in 1867.[5] He then took a special course at the University of Mississippi in 1868.

Career

After graduating from college, Harrison became a lawyer and joined his father's law firm. Harrison was first elected to represent Lowndes County in the Mississippi House of Representatives to serve in the 1884 session.[6] In that session Harrison helped the effort to pass a bill to establish an industrial college for female students (now the Mississippi University for Women), which was located in Columbus due to his influence. He was appointed to be the chairman of the college's board of trustees. Harrison was re-elected for the 1886 session, and in that session, he served as the Chairman of the House's Appropriations Committee. After serving in the House, Harrison temporarily retired from politics to focus on his law career.

In 1891, Harrison was elected to represent the 25th District as a Democrat in the Mississippi State Senate for the 1892-1896 term.[7] [8] Harrison was re-elected in 1895, and served in the 1896-1900 term.[9] In this term, Harrison was also elected to be the Senate's President Pro Tempore.[10]

On August 28, 1899, Harrison was nominated by the Mississippi State Democratic Convention for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, and his nomination was chosen on the first ballot. After being elected, Harrison held this office from 1900 to 1904.[11] Outside politics, Harrison was involved in many institutions in Columbus, including directing several railroads.

Personal life and death

Harrison was a deacon of the Baptist Church. He was a Grand Commander and Knight Templar in the Masonic Order and also belonged to the Odd Fellows.[12] Harrison married Fannie S. Moore in 1884. They had at least two children, including James T. Jr. and Nellie. Harrison died at his home in Columbus, Mississippi, on May 17, 1928.[11]

References

  1. Book: Mississippi . Department Reports . 1900 . 85 . en.
  2. Book: The Sigma Chi Quarterly: The Official Organ of the Sigma Chi Fraternity . 1900 . The Fraternity . 79, 103–104 . en.
  3. Book: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi: Embracing an Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the History of the State and a Record of the Lives of Many of the Most Worthy and Illustrious Families and Individuals . 1891 . Goodspeed . 881–882 . en.
  4. Book: Michigan, Knights Templar (Masonic order) Grand Cammandery of the State of . Proceedings of the ... Annual Conclave . 1930 . Grand Commandery . 73 . en.
  5. Book: The Sigma Chi Fraternity Manual and Directory . 1917 . 32 . en.
  6. Book: Lowry . Robert . A History of Mississippi: From the Discovery of the Great River by Hernando DeSoto, Including the Earliest Settlement Made by the French Under Iberville, to the Death of Jefferson Davis . McCardle . William H. . 1891 . AMS Press . 978-0-404-04610-1 . 528 . en.
  7. Book: House, Mississippi Legislature . Journal . 1894 . 486 . en.
  8. Book: Rowland, Dunbar . The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi . 1917 . Department of Archives and History . 197 . en.
  9. Book: Journal.
  10. Web site: 2016-2020 Mississippi Blue Book Michael Watson Secretary of state . 2022-11-06 . www.sos.ms.gov.
  11. News: 1928-05-25 . Death of James H. Harrison . 4 . The Clarksdale Press Register . 2022-11-06.
  12. News: 1928-05-18 . Obituary for James T Harrison . 1 . Sun Herald . 2022-11-06.