Henry Harrison (Philadelphia mayor)


Henry Harrison was a merchant and politician, and the mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1762–1763.

Early life

Harrison was born in Lancashire, England in.
In his early life, he was captain of the ship The Snow Squirrel.

Career

After moving to the Province of Pennsylvania in what was then British America, Harrison served as an alderman. He was also a member and vestryman of Christ Church. He became wealthy as a dry-goods merchant.
On October 5, 1762, he was appointed mayor of Philadelphia, serving until October 4, 1763.
He also served as manager of the Public Hospital and was a local real estate developer.

Personal life

On April 13, 1748, Harrison married Mary Aspden, formerly of Lancashire and the daughter of Mathew Aspen. In 1760, he built a home in Philadelphia on Coombes Alley. Together, they were the parents of four children:
Harrison died on January 3, 1766 in Philadelphia, where he was buried in Christ Church Burial Ground. His stone is inscribed "Alderman and sometime Mayor of Philadelphia, A Christian and useful Citizen. His desolate Widow, sadly bewailing her irretrievable loss, and striving to alleviate her grief with the memory of his worth, Erected this Stone." His estate was estimated to be worth over £15,086.12.0 which included 157 troy ounces of plate valued at £78.10.