Harris, Townsend, 1804-1878

Harris was born Oct. 3, 1804 in Sandy Hill, NY; at age 13 started work at a dry goods store in NYC; joined his father and brother in business importing china; elected as a Democrat to the Board of Education in 1846, where he successfully led the fight for a free college which later became the College of the City of New York; purchased a trading ship, sailed to California, and undertook voyages in the Pacific and Indian Oceans which ended in financial disaster; in 1855 he was appointed US Consul General to Japan; negotiated commercial treaties with Siam in 1857 and Japan in 1858; after the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, he resigned, returned to NYC, became a War Democrat, and joined the Union League Club; spent his remaining years concerned with temperance, Christian missions, and foreign affairs; he died on Feb. 25, 1878.

From the description of Papers, 1855-1892. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 39287188

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