Background
Harris was born in Knox County, Tennessee, in 1811.
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Sion Harris
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An emancipated slave, he emigrated to Liberia in 1830 and engaged in a string of adventures, most notably thwarting an attack on the Heddington mission by an army of Loma tribesmen in 1840. He later served in Liberia"s House of Representatives. Little is known of his early life, though he would later state in a conversation with abolitionist Ezekiel Birdseye that he had been a slave.
He eventually obtained his freedom, and commenced working as a carpenter.
Gotorah was shot by Harris during the assault, prompting the attackers to retreat. Gotorah"s half-buried body was later found in the vicinity by Liberian militiamen.
His corpse was decapitated, and the head was presented to Governor Thomas Buchanan. Harris was widely praised for his actions.
En route from Washington, District of Columbia, to Tennessee, Harris extolled the qualities of Liberia to crowds of free blacks.
In October 1841, he delivered a speech to over a thousand attendees at a camp meeting in Maryville organized by Isaac Anderson. He afterward returned to Liberia with over a dozen relatives. In August 1853, Harris was elected to one of Montserrado County"s seats in Liberia"s House of Representatives.
A few months into his term on April 25, 1854, however, he was killed when he was struck by lightning during a violent thunderstorm.
Membership
Erskine and several members of his family died shortly after their arrival. He met with several members of East Tennessee"s abolitionist community, among them Ezekiel Birdseye and John Caldwell.
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Born
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Died
April 25, 1854 (aged 43) -
Nationality
American