born Oct. 3, 1804, Sandy Hill, N.Y., U.S.
died Feb. 25, 1878, New York City
U.S. diplomat.
He served as president of New York City's board of education and helped found the Free Academy (later City College of New York). In 1847 he left New York to embark on trading voyages in the Pacific and Indian oceans. In 1853 he met Matthew Perry in Shanghai and tried to accompany him to Japan, but his bid was rejected. In 1856 he secured an appointment as consul general to Japan; he was unwelcome at first, but changing attitudes in Japan and Harris's perseverance produced a commercial treaty in 1858 that opened Japanese ports to U.S. trade.