Richard Deodatus Poulett-Harris was an educationalist in England and
Background
Harris was born on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, the eldest son of Captain Charles Poulett Harris of the 60th Rifles Regiment, who was stationed there. His mother was Anna Maria, daughter of Richard Stout, judge and member of the governor"s council on Cape Breton Island. Harris was descended from Sir Amias Poulett, English ambassador to France in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and afterwards keeper of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Education
Harris was educated from 1837 at the Manchester Free Grammar School and from 1839 Trinity College, Cambridge where he graduated Bachelor of Arts with honours in 1843, and Master of Arts
Career
In 1852. He engaged in teaching and became a master at Huddersfield Technical College in 1844, and five years later was appointed classics master at the Blackheath preparatory school. After his wife"s death in June 1856, Harris went to to became headmaster of the Hobart high school, and filled the position with much ability, inspiring both respect and affection from his pupils. lieutenant was at Harris" suggestion that an act was passed in 1858 founding a system of school examinations based on the Oxford and Cambridge local examinations, and also founding the n scholarships of £200 a year tenable at English universities.
He resigned from his headmastership in 1885 and lived in retirement near Hobart.
When the university was founded in 1890 Harris was elected the first warden of the senate. He was also the first Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge in.
Membership
He was one of the original members of the council of education founded in 1859, and long advocated the establishment of the University of.