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James T. Harrison (lieutenant governor)

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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.

James T. Harrison
1884
14th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
In office
January 1900 – January 1904
GovernorAndrew H. Longino
Preceded byJ. H. Jones
Succeeded byJohn Prentiss Carter
President pro tempore of the Mississippi State Senate
In office
January 7, 1896 – January 2, 1900
Preceded byRobert Aaron Dean
Succeeded byJohn R. Dinsmore
Member of the Mississippi State Senate
from the 25th district
In office
January 1892 – January 1900
Preceded byPat Henry
Succeeded byS. M. Meek
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
from the Lowndes County district
In office
January 1884 – January 1888
Personal details
Born(1848-05-21)May 21, 1848
Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedMay 17, 1928(1928-05-17) (aged 79)
Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ParentJames Thomas Harrison (father)

Early life

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

Career

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After graduating from college, Harrison became a lawyer and joined his father's law firm.[3] 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.[3] He was appointed to be the chairman of the college's board of trustees.[3] Harrison was re-elected for the 1886 session, and in that session, he served as the Chairman of the House's Appropriations Committee.[3][6] After serving in the House, Harrison temporarily retired from politics to focus on his law career.[3]

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][2] In this term, Harrison was also elected to be the Senate's President Pro Tempore.[10][2]

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.[2] After being elected, Harrison held this office from 1900 to 1904.[1][10][11] Outside politics, Harrison was involved in many institutions in Columbus, including directing several railroads.[3]

Personal life and death

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Harrison was a deacon of the Baptist Church.[1][6] He was a Grand Commander and Knight Templar in the Masonic Order and also belonged to the Odd Fellows.[3][12][4] Harrison married Fannie S. Moore in 1884.[3] They had at least two children, including James T. Jr. and Nellie.[3] Harrison died at his home in Columbus, Mississippi, on May 17, 1928.[12][11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Mississippi (1900). Department Reports. p. 85.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h The Sigma Chi Quarterly: The Official Organ of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. The Fraternity. 1900. pp. 79, 103–104.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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. Goodspeed. 1891. pp. 881–882.
  4. ^ a b Michigan, Knights Templar (Masonic order) Grand Cammandery of the State of (1930). Proceedings of the ... Annual Conclave. Grand Commandery. p. 73.
  5. ^ The Sigma Chi Fraternity Manual and Directory. 1917. p. 32.
  6. ^ a b c Lowry, Robert; McCardle, William H. (1891). 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. AMS Press. p. 528. ISBN 978-0-404-04610-1.
  7. ^ House, Mississippi Legislature (1894). Journal. p. 486.
  8. ^ Rowland, Dunbar (1917). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Department of Archives and History. p. 197.
  9. ^ Journal.
  10. ^ a b "2016-2020 Mississippi Blue Book | Michael Watson Secretary of state". www.sos.ms.gov. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  11. ^ a b "Death of James H. Harrison". The Clarksdale Press Register. 1928-05-25. p. 4. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  12. ^ a b "Obituary for James T Harrison". Sun Herald. 1928-05-18. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
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