Samuel Smith Harris

The Right Reverend

Samuel Smith Harris

D.D., LL.D.
Bishop of Michigan
ChurchEpiscopal Church
DioceseMichigan
ElectedJune 7, 1879
In office1879–1888
PredecessorSamuel A. McCoskry
SuccessorThomas Frederick Davies Sr.
Orders
OrdinationJune 30, 1869
by Richard Hooker Wilmer
ConsecrationSeptember 17, 1879
by Richard Hooker Wilmer
Personal details
Born(1841-09-14)September 14, 1841
DiedAugust 21, 1888(1888-08-21) (aged 46)
London, England
BuriedElmwood Cemetery, Detroit
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglican
ParentsBuckner Harris & Sarah McKeithen
SpouseMary Gindrat Pickett
Children7
Alma materUniversity of Alabama
SignatureSamuel Smith Harris's signature

Samuel Smith Harris (September 14, 1841 – August 21, 1888) was the second Bishop of Michigan in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

Biography

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Harris was born on September 14, 1841, in Autauga County, Alabama.[1] He graduated in law from the University of Alabama in 1859. Later he enlisted in the 3rd Regiment Alabama Infantry in 1861. On December 19, the same year, Harris married Mary Gindrat Pickett with whom he had seven children. After the war he left for New York to practice supreme law. He also commenced his studies in theology after which he was ordained deacon on February 10, 1869, and then priest on June 30, 1869, on both occasions by Bishop Richard Hooker Wilmer of Alabama. He served in several churches in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Illinois. He graduated with a Doctor of Divinity in 1874 from the College of William & Mary and his LLD from the University of Alabama in 1879.

Episcopacy

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In 1879 Harris was elected Bishop of Michigan. He was consecrated on September 17, 1879, in St Paul's Cathedral in Detroit. He served as the first editor of The Living Church with John Fulton, and wrote several books, including The Dignity of Man, Christianity and Civil Society, Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality, and Shelton, a novel.[2]

Death

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In 1888 he traveled to England to preach in Winchester Cathedral. Whilst there he suffered a stroke and died a few days later on August 21, 1888.[1] His funeral took place in Winchester Cathedral and presided by Edward White Benson Primate of All England and Archbishop of Canterbury. His body was brought back to Detroit and buried in Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit, however he was exhumed and transferred to Elmwood Cemetery in 1900.

References

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  1. ^ a b Johnson, Rossiter; Brown, John Howard, eds. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. V. Boston: American Biographical Society. Retrieved April 8, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Herringshaw, Thomas William, ed. (1902). Accurate and Succinct Biographies of Famous Men and Women in All Walks of Life. Chicago: American Publishers Association.
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Episcopal Church (USA) titles
Preceded by Bishop of Michigan
1879–1888
Succeeded by