Educator, missionary.
Born at India on 26 January 1859, he earned a BA at London, England and worked 10 years for the Bible Society within several countries across northern Africa including Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt (c1902). He married Alice Uniacke [Uniache] Townsend (c1870-1928) around or before the turn of the century and had four children; Ruth Doris Harris (c1900-?), Eric Townshend Harris (1902-?), George Harris (c1904), and Edward Harris (c1905-?).
In 1913, he and his family immigrated to Canada and, by 1913, had settled initially at 188 Florence Avenue [Baltimore Road] (1914-1916) in Winnipeg, later lodging at 363 Wardlaw Avenue (1917). He took up teaching and was Principal of Minnedosa North School (1914), Franklin School (1915), Glenboro School (1916), Birtle School (circa February 1918, substitute Principal), and Melita School (1918). In addition to his classroom work, he also did private tutoring out of his Winnipeg residence, and made presentations in various churches about his experiences in Africa. Though not known to have received a formal degree in divinity, he was occasionally referred to in local newspaper records as Reverend during his first several years in Manitoba. By the late 1920s, he and his wife had moved to 7216 Inverness Street at Vancouver, British Columbia, where he continued to teach until around 1940.
He died at Vancouver, British Columbia on 21 January 1950 and was buried in the Mountain View Cemetery.
1916 and 1931 Canada censuses, Library and Archives Canada.
Attestation papers [Eric Townshend Harris], Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.
Death registrations [Alice Uniache Harris, Herman Gundert Harris], British Columbia Vital Statistics.
“Educational [Ad; Private Tuition for University],” Manitoba Free Press, 17 October 1914, page 20.
“Educational [Ad; Matriuculation, Tuition for University],” Manitoba Free Press, 3 February 1915, page 30.
“Local notes [Principal H. G. Harris],” Glenboro Gazette, 16 March 1916, page 1.
“St John's Presbyterian Church,” Manitoba Free Press, 4 November 1916, page 29.
“First Baptist Church [ad],” Brandon Daily Sun, 10 March 1917, page 3.
“Annual meeting of Bible Society,” Brandon Daily Sun, 10 March 1917, page 8.
“The Eye-Witness [Prof H. G. Harris ...],” Birtle Eye-Witness, 5 February 1918, page 5.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 3 November 2025
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