George P. Harrison Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's3rd district | |
| In office November 6, 1894 – March 3, 1897 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Pelham |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah N. Williams |
| President of the Alabama Senate | |
| In office 1882-1884 | |
| Member of theAlabama Senate | |
| In office 1878-1884 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Paul Harrison (1841-03-19)March 19, 1841 |
| Died | July 17, 1922(1922-07-17) (aged 81) |
| Resting place | Rosemere Cemetery (Opelika, Alabama) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Signature | .png) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1862–65 |
| Rank | Actingbrigadier general (CSA) |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
George Paul Harrison (March 19, 1841 – July 17, 1922) was aU.S. Representative fromAlabama.
Born at "Monteith Plantation," 12 miles fromSavannah, Georgia, George Paul Harrison, attendedEffingham Academy and theGeorgia Military Institute atMarietta, Georgia.[1][2] His father,George Paul Harrison, was a wealthy planter, state legislator andbrigadier general of Georgia militia during theAmerican Civil War. His mother was Thurza Adelaide (Guinn) Harrison.[3]
On January 3, 1861, at the onset of tensions which would lead to theCivil War later that April, Harrison entered theConfederate States Army assecond lieutenant of the First Georgia Regulars. He later participated in theseizure of Fort Pulaski.[1][2] In recognition of his actions in that battle, GovernorJoseph E. Brown appointed Harrison as military commandant of theGeorgia Military Institute, until he graduated in May 1861.[2] Harrison then returned to the army and was successively promoted over the course of the war tofirst lieutenant,major,colonel, and actingbrigadier general. On May 15, 1862, he was elected colonel of the 32nd Georgia Infantry Regiment. He commanded Fort Johnson,Morris Island andJohn's Island, where he was wounded twice, and reinforcedFort Wagner during the July 18, 1863, battle. He commanded a brigade at theBattle of Olustee, which resulted in the defeat of Federal forces. During the battle, the brigade suffered official casualties of 50 killed, 406 wounded and four missing.[4] After reaching the rank of Brigadier General, Harrison commanded a brigade ofA.P. Stewart's corps. At the time, he was 23 years old, the youngest Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army.[2] During the course of the war, Harrison was wounded three times. The last time at the Battle of Olustee, where a horse was shot out from under him.[2] Harrison commanded a prison camp atFlorence, South Carolina, in late 1864, where 25,000 Union prisoners were interned. He was commended by Union prisoners for his humane treatment of them. During the war, Harrison undertook the command responsibility of brigadier general, leading a brigade during theCarolinas Campaign and at theBattle of Bentonville, and elsewhere. Although he received a provisional appointment to that rank, it was never officially confirmed before the end of hostilities.[1][2]
After the war, Harrison moved to Alabama in 1865, where he studiedlaw. He served as commandant of cadets atAuburn University. He wasadmitted to the bar and commenced practice inAuburn, Alabama, and also worked as a planter. He served as member of the constitutional convention of Alabama in 1875. Harrison served in the State senate between 1878 and 1884 and was its president in 1882–1884. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892.[3]
Harrison was elected as aDemocrat to theFifty-third Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation ofWilliam C. Oates. He was reelected to theFifty-fourth Congress and served from November 6, 1894, to March 3, 1897.[3]
After his final term in Congress, he resumed the practice of law inOpelika, Alabama. He served as delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1901.[3] Harrison again served in the Alabama State senate in 1900 and 1902. Harrison served as general counsel for theWestern Railway of Alabama and as Division counsel for theCentral of Georgia Railway. He was major general of the Alabama Division of theUnited Confederate Veterans.
Of Harrison's visit to the Tuskegee Institute, Booker T Washington said: "I want to say again how very much we all appreciate the visit of [former Confederate] General George Paul Harrison to Tuskegee. We all realize more and more that men like him are the true friends of our race, and that any monument that will keep the fine character of such heroes before the public will prove helpful to both races in the South." Washington, Booker T. , Papers Volume 13:14-15. University of Chicago Press. Page 64.
Forwarded by Teresa Roane, United Daughter’s of the Confederacy, African American
Mary A. Harrison, the daughter of Hon. George P. Harrison, was born in Lee county, Alabama. She was graduated with first honors from the Wesleyan Female College, at Macon, Georgia, afterwards taking a musical course at the Cincinnati Conservatory, which was supplemented by two years' study in New York City with Ernani. Miss Harrison inherited her fine musical talent from her mother. Her voice is well adapted for sacred and dramatic music, and she was requested to sing at leading Washington churches. Harrison resided with her father at the Riggs, and was a prominent figure in the numerous receptions given there.[5]
George Paul Harrison, died in Opelika, Alabama, on July 17, 1922. He was interred in Rosemere Cemetery.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 3rd congressional district November 6, 1894 – March 3, 1897 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| People | |
