Harry Bates Thayer (August 17, 1858 – September 3, 1936), was an American electrical and telephone businessman.

[3] He was a descendant of Alden Thayer, Governor Brewster, and other early New England settlors.

He left Western Electric Company in July 1919 to succeed his close friend Theodore Vail as president of AT&T.

[6] On April 26, 1887, Thayer was married to Carrie Motte Ransom (1864–1916) in Porter, New York.

After living on Staten Island and then Kingsbridge, the Thayers settled in New Canaan, Connecticut, in 1903.