Ira Harris (Congressional Biographical Dictionary)

HARRIS, Ira, (grandfather of Henry Riggs Rathbone), a Senator from New York; born in Charleston, Montgomery County, N.Y., May 31, 1802; attended the district school and Homer (N.Y.) Academy; graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., in 1824; studied law in Albany; admitted to the bar in 1827 and commenced practice in Albany; member, State assembly 1845-1846; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1846; member, State senate 1847; upon the organization of the Albany Law School in 1850 was engaged as lecturer on equity jurisprudence; justice of the State supreme court 1847-1859; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1867; unsuccessful candidate for reelection; chairman, Committee on Private Land Claims (Thirty-seventh through Thirty-ninth Congresses); delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1867; professor in the Albany Law School from 1867 until his death; died in Albany, N.Y., December 2, 1875; interment in Rural Cemetery, Colonie, near Watervliet, Albany County, N.Y.