Jean Thomson de Harris

Jean Thomson Harris (6 November 1881 – 9 November 1963) was the wife of Paul Harris, a lawyer who founded the first Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905. She supported the organisation but was never allowed to join because she was a woman. She eventually joined the Inner Wheel and she was the first honorary member of the Inner Wheel Club of Edinburgh. Both her birthplace and burial site are commemorated with plaques. She is known internationally.

Early life

She was born in 1881 at 9 Cumberland Street, in the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the daughter of John Thomson, furniture packer from Logie Pert in Forfarshire and later a minister in the Church of Scotland whom she married on 2 July 1910.

Whilst on a Rotary visit to Melbourne, Australia, Paul was tired and asked Jean to speak on his behalf, which she did.

Jean became a member of the Inner Wheel, and in 1946 was made the first honorary member of the Inner Wheel Club of Edinburgh.

Later life and death After Harris died in 1947, Jean briefly continued to live at Comely Bank but then sold the house and returned to her native Edinburgh, and died in Scotland on 9 November 1963.

She is buried in Newington Cemetery, Edinburgh.

Memorials A plaque was erected at her birthplace at 9 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh, by the Rotary Club St Louis (No 11), Missouri, US.

Another memorial is found on the gate of Newington Cemetery, Edinburgh, where she is buried.

Jean is mentioned in Rotary literature in many countries.