[1] He was born in New York and spent his early life there and in Australia where is father was involved in shipping.
He then attended St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical school (Barts) qualifying as a doctor in 1923.
[1] He had close connections with the University of London and in 1950 became a member of its Senate, the governing body covering the various colleges, medical schools and other institutions in 1950, and of its Court in 1951.
Sir Charles helped in the establishment of the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the Royal College of Surgeons.
[1] Each year the University of London awards in his honour the Sir Charles Harris Prize for the best results achieved in the final examinations by an external student of English.