George Harris, 3rd Baron Harris
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George Francis Robert Harris, 3rd Baron Harris GCSI (14 August 1810-23 November 1872), was a British peer, Liberal politician and colonial administrator.
Harris was the son of Lieutenant-General William Harris, 2nd Baron Harris. He succeeded his father as third Baron Harris in May 1845 at the age of 34. The following year he was appointed Governor of Trinidad, a post he held until 1854. Lord Harris played a major role the the development of Trinidad, initiating the system of counties and wards, the primary education system, the postal system, a public library and brought piped water to Port of Spain. He opened the Government House (now the Red House) and constructed the Governor's House (now the President's House) and established the Royal Botanic Gardens. Lord Harris played an important role in the early settlement of Indian indentured labourers in Trinidad. He was also considered a strong proponent of an Anglicisation policy which sought to make Trinidad more English in its institutions and laws. This drew him criticism from the French Creole elite.
In 1854 Lord Harris was appointed Governor of Madras, which he remained until 1859. Between 1860 and 1863 he also served as a Lord-in-Waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) in the Liberal administration of Lord Palmerston. Apart from his political career he was also Chamberlain to Alexandra, Princess of Wales, from 1863 to 1871.
Lord Harris married Sarah, daughter of the Venerable George Cummons, Archdeacon of Trinidad, in 1850. She died only three years later. Lord Harris died in November 1872, aged 62, and was succeeded in the barony by his son Robert Harris, 4th Baron Harris, who became a successful cricketer and Conservative politician.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry George Macleod |
Governor of Trinidad 1846-1854 |
Succeeded by L. Bourchier (acting) |
| Preceded by Daniel Eliott (acting) |
Governor of Madras 1854–1859 |
Succeeded by Sir Charles Trevelyan |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by William Harris |
Baron Harris 1845–1872 |
Succeeded by Robert George Canning Harris |
[edit] References
- Anthony, Michael (2001). Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago. Scarecrow Press, Inc. Lanham, Md., and London. ISBN 0-8108-3173-2.
- Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
