Dirty Dan Harris

Daniel Jefferson "Dirty Dan" Harris (c. 1833 – August 18, 1890) was an early settler of the Bellingham Bay area and founder of the town of Fairhaven, Washington.

Following a stint as a whaler in the Pacific Ocean, Harris arrived in Washington Territory in either 1853 or 1854.

[1][2] After years of trading and buying land surrounding his original homestead, he platted the property into the town of Fairhaven in 1883 and began selling plots for gold.

[6] Residents of Bellingham today celebrate an annual festival in Harris's honor where visitors can learn about the early history of the city.

He was born on Long Island in New York, with Southampton, Patchogue, Sag Harbor, and Bridgehampton cited by various sources as his birthplace.