Stephen Randall Harris
Encyclopedia
Stephen Randall Harris (1802–1879) was the third mayor of San Francisco from January 1 – October 2, 1852.
He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York
. After his father was killed in the War of 1812
, he went to live with relatives. He was then apprenticed to a surgeon and entered New York's College of Physicians and Surgeons. After graduating in 1826, he began his own practice in New York City, where he lived until 1849. During this time, he earned a good reputation within the medical community there, enabling him to be health commissioner of New York, the surgeon for the Ninth Military Regiment, and as the surgeon for the New York alms house. He later worked without pay for many hundreds hours, fighting the cholera epidemic of 1832–1834. He also got his first taste of political life while in private practice.
After moving to California in 1849, he went to the gold mines to pan gold. After panning enough gold to earn money to open a drug store, he moved to San Francisco. He also become involved in poliitics, first being elected as city alderman
, and then to the common council (the city council as it was then known). Dr. Harris fell on hard times, however, when his drugstore was destroyed by fire, and two subsequent drugstores that he established were also destroyed by fire. He returned to the gold fields to pan more gold and returned to San Francisco, to open a fourth drugstore.
He also ran for mayor in 1851, being elected unanimously as the only official candidate. As mayor, Harris battled the common council over budget and attempted to control the city budget. He also faced Chinese immigraion and rising crime.
After losing to Charles J. Brenham
in the 1852 election, Harris took a brief respite from politics. He would ultimately serve as city comptroller
for several years and then as city coroner
before returning to his medical practice. He died on April 27, 1879.
He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
. After his father was killed in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he went to live with relatives. He was then apprenticed to a surgeon and entered New York's College of Physicians and Surgeons. After graduating in 1826, he began his own practice in New York City, where he lived until 1849. During this time, he earned a good reputation within the medical community there, enabling him to be health commissioner of New York, the surgeon for the Ninth Military Regiment, and as the surgeon for the New York alms house. He later worked without pay for many hundreds hours, fighting the cholera epidemic of 1832–1834. He also got his first taste of political life while in private practice.
After moving to California in 1849, he went to the gold mines to pan gold. After panning enough gold to earn money to open a drug store, he moved to San Francisco. He also become involved in poliitics, first being elected as city alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, and then to the common council (the city council as it was then known). Dr. Harris fell on hard times, however, when his drugstore was destroyed by fire, and two subsequent drugstores that he established were also destroyed by fire. He returned to the gold fields to pan more gold and returned to San Francisco, to open a fourth drugstore.
He also ran for mayor in 1851, being elected unanimously as the only official candidate. As mayor, Harris battled the common council over budget and attempted to control the city budget. He also faced Chinese immigraion and rising crime.
After losing to Charles J. Brenham
Charles James Brenham
Charles James Brenham was the second and fourth mayor of San Francisco in 1851 and from 1852 to 1853.Brenham was born on November 6, 1817 in Frankfort, Kentucky. At an early age, he left home to work on riverboats on the Mississippi. By age twenty, he ran his own steamship...
in the 1852 election, Harris took a brief respite from politics. He would ultimately serve as city comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
for several years and then as city coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
before returning to his medical practice. He died on April 27, 1879.