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William Harris (MP, died 1709) facts for kids

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William Harris (born around 1652 – died October 17, 1709) was an important English landowner and politician. He came from a place called Hayne in Devon, England. William Harris was a member of the English Parliament and later the British Parliament from 1690 to 1709. This means he helped make laws for the country during that time.

William's Early Life

William Harris was the oldest son of Christopher Harris. His family lived in Hayne, Devon, and also in Kenegie, Gulval, Cornwall. His mother was Elizabeth Trott. We don't know much about his schooling.

In 1682, William and three other men received a special permission, called a patent. This patent was for a new machine they invented. This machine was designed to pump water out of mines, especially the tin mines in Cornwall. Keeping mines dry was very important for miners to work safely.

In 1685, William Harris married Jane St Aubyn. Her family was from Clowance, Cornwall. In 1687, William became the owner of the Hayne estate. He inherited it after his father passed away.

His Time in Politics

William Harris became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1690. He was elected to represent the area of St Ives. At that time, he was seen as a member of the Whig political group. The Whigs were one of the main political parties in England.

During his time in Parliament, William often took breaks because he wasn't feeling well. He did not run for re-election in 1695. However, he stayed involved in local government. In 1696, he became a councilman in the city of Plymouth.

In 1698, William Harris was elected as an MP again, this time for Okehampton. His family had strong connections in that area. He was elected without anyone running against him. He was then considered a "Country Whig," which meant he was a Whig who focused more on local issues.

He was re-elected for Okehampton in 1701. By the end of 1701, people thought he was leaning more towards the Tory political group. He did not run for Parliament in 1702. Instead, he served as the High Sheriff of Devon from 1703 to 1704. This was an important local role, like a chief law enforcement officer for the county. In 1705, he also became a Deputy Lieutenant for Devon.

In 1705, he tried to get elected for Okehampton again but lost. However, in 1708, he was elected as an MP for Okehampton one last time, again without anyone running against him. Even though the Whigs weren't sure exactly what his political views were, they thought he was a better choice than the Tory candidate, Thomas Northmore.

End of Life

William Harris passed away on October 17, 1709, when he was 57 years old. He and his wife, Jane, had three sons: Christopher, John, and William. They also had one daughter named Jane. After his death, his son Christopher took his place in Parliament. Christopher was also in charge of William's estate.

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