William R. Harris

William Rowland Harris Harris was brought with his family to Tennessee when his father moved near the Duck River in Bedford County, Tennessee, thereafter moving to Franklin County. His father was poor, and Harris had to work to help maintain the family. He was educated at the Carrick Academy in Winchester in the intervals between the making of crops. After he came of age and was appointed a deputy-sheriff of Franklin County, he studied at night, and kept up with his class in Carrick Academy. In 1825 he began to read law under Isaac Cook at Lawrenceburg, gaining admission to practice in 1827. He opened an office in Paris, Henry County, Tennessee. Harris was one of the founders of a community there, and where he "rapidly acquired an extensive and lucrative practice". His youngest brother, Isham G. Harris, was Governor of Tennessee during the American Civil War, and thereafter represented his State for several terms in the United States Senate.

Harris was killed by the explosion of the boilers of the Mississippi River steamboat Pennsylvania, bound from New Orleans to Memphis. Upon his death, the duty of appointing his successor fell to his brother, Isham G., who was Governor at that time.