Background
Harris was born in Yorkshire, England, of Welsh parents.
Harris was born in Yorkshire, England, of Welsh parents.
Harris would later settle and establish Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America, which bears his name today. When Harris landed in Philadelphia, his total wealth was 16 guineas (about $8176) but he began to improve his fortune through contracts to clear land and open streets in the city. He developed cordial relations with the Penn family as well.
In 1705 the first John Harris received his trader"s licence to "seat himself on the Sasquahannah" (Susquehanna River) and "to erect such buildings as are necessary for his trade, and to enclose and improve such quantities of land he shall see fit." At first a roving trader, he eventually established a trading post along the river.
In 1733 he was granted the right to operate a ferry across the Susquehanna and for more than half a century "Harris"s Ferry" was the funnel through which much of the Scottish, Irish and German migration trickled west. In the same year Harris acquired, through grants, two tracts of land adjacent to his ferry, totaling 800 acres (32 km2).
Today, the area has been developed into downtown Harrisburg.