A Special April Birthday
Can you guess who this person is whose birthday was in April?
On 19 April 1868, Paul Harris was born in Racine, Wisconsin, USA. After moving to Chicago in 1896, he founded the first Rotary club in 1905. In celebration of his birthday, here is some more about the life and times of Rotary's founder.
Paul Percy Harris was the second of six children of George N. and Cornelia Bryan Harris. At age three, when his family fell on hard times they moved to Wallingford, Vermont, where he grew up in the care of his paternal grandparents, Howard and Pamela Harris. He attended the Universities of Vermont, Princeton and Iowa. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1891.
While he was in school, both of Harris's grandparents died, and he spent the five years after graduation traveling around the country and working odd jobs. After arriving penniless in San Francisco in 1891, he worked as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle and then as a ranch hand, grape picker, actor, and cowboy. He was also a hotel night clerk in Jacksonville, Florida, and a traveling marble and granite salesman.
In 1910, he met Jean Thomson during an outing with the Prairie Club, a Chicago-based organisation for wilderness enthusiasts. Harris and Thomson married three months later and settled on Chicago's South Side. In the same year, the National Association of Rotary Clubs was formed, and Harris was elected its first president. He held the office for two years and afterward became president emeritus, serving as the public face of the organisation and promoting membership extension and service around the world.
Paul Harris wrote several books about Rotary and his life and travels, including The Founder of Rotary and This Rotarian Age. In addition to his work with Rotary, he was involved in other civic organisations, including the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry, City Club of Chicago, Chicago Bar Association, Prairie Club, and Easter Seals. He was also recognized by the Boy Scouts of America and honored by the governments of Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Peru.
• For more information about Rotary history, visit Rotary History and Archives or the Rotary Global History Fellowship.
Paul Percy Harris was the second of six children of George N. and Cornelia Bryan Harris. At age three, when his family fell on hard times they moved to Wallingford, Vermont, where he grew up in the care of his paternal grandparents, Howard and Pamela Harris. He attended the Universities of Vermont, Princeton and Iowa. He received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1891.
While he was in school, both of Harris's grandparents died, and he spent the five years after graduation traveling around the country and working odd jobs. After arriving penniless in San Francisco in 1891, he worked as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle and then as a ranch hand, grape picker, actor, and cowboy. He was also a hotel night clerk in Jacksonville, Florida, and a traveling marble and granite salesman.
In 1896, he settled in Chicago and opened a law practice. Along with three clients of his, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey, he founded the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1905 and was elected its president in 1907.
In 1910, he met Jean Thomson during an outing with the Prairie Club, a Chicago-based organisation for wilderness enthusiasts. Harris and Thomson married three months later and settled on Chicago's South Side. In the same year, the National Association of Rotary Clubs was formed, and Harris was elected its first president. He held the office for two years and afterward became president emeritus, serving as the public face of the organisation and promoting membership extension and service around the world.
Paul Harris wrote several books about Rotary and his life and travels, including The Founder of Rotary and This Rotarian Age. In addition to his work with Rotary, he was involved in other civic organisations, including the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry, City Club of Chicago, Chicago Bar Association, Prairie Club, and Easter Seals. He was also recognized by the Boy Scouts of America and honored by the governments of Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Peru.
Paul Harris died on 27 January 1947 aged 79, leaving a rich legacy of fellowship, professionalism, service, and friendship. His passing also sparked an outpouring of donations to The Rotary Foundation from all over the world, allowing the Foundation to greatly expand its programmes and services.
• In honour of Paul Harris's birthday, listen to an excerpt of his address to the 1933 convention and read a quote on Rotary Voices. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdSjq-cZk6k
• For more information about Rotary history, visit Rotary History and Archives or the Rotary Global History Fellowship.
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