Sampson Willis Harris (1809-1857) was an American politician and lawyer in the states ofGeorgia andAlabama.

Harris was born on February 23, 1809, inElbert County, Georgia, to Stephen Willis Harris, a judge of theSuperior court, and Sarah Herndon Harris. Young Harris graduated from theUniversity of Georgia inAthens in 1828, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1830. Harris established his law practice in Athens.^[1][2]

Harris was elected to theGeorgia House of Representatives in 1833, and served one term from 1834 to 1835.

After moving toWetumpka, Alabama in 1838, Harris was elected as the solicitor of the eighth circuit in 1841. He then served in theAlabama Senate in 1844 and 1845. Harris was then elected in 1846 to representAlabama's 3rd congressional district in theUnited States House of Representatives during the30th United States Congress and was reelected to three additional terms (31st,32nd and33rd Congresses) in that seat from March 4, 1847, until March 3, 1855. Harris won election toAlabama's 7th congressional district in 1854 and served in the34th Congress and served from March 4, 1855, until March 3, 1857.^[1][2]

Harris did not seek reelection in 1856 and died on April 1, 1857, inWashington, D. C., less than a month after leaving congressional office. He was survived by his wife, Paulina Harris, and four of his five siblings. A smallmonument still stands in theCongressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., commemorating Harris and his work for his country. He was buried inOconee Hill Cemetery in Athens.^[1] His son, Sampson Watkins Harris, was born in Wetumpka, Alabama on March 29, 1828, but later moved to Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia. Sampson Watkins Harris practiced law, served as a colonel in theConfederate States Army, was Georgiaadjutant-general, and was offered appointments to theSupreme Court of Georgia and the position ofGeorgia Secretary of State, both of which he declined.^[2][3]

• United States Congress."Sampson Willis Harris (id: H000252)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Sampson Willis Harris atFind a Grave
• Speech of the Hon. Sampson W. Harris, of Alabama on the Measures of Compromise: Delivered in the House of Representatives, June 10, 1850 (Classic Reprint) Hardcover – September 15, 2018

• 1809 births
• 1857 deaths
• Members of the Georgia House of Representatives
• Democratic Party Alabama state senators
• University of Georgia alumni
• Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama
• People from Elbert County, Georgia
• Burials at Oconee Hill Cemetery
• 19th-century United States representatives
• 19th-century members of the Georgia General Assembly
• 19th-century members of the Alabama Legislature

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata