Born on November 9, 1818, in Pike County, Mississippi, Harris attended the common schools and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

He was graduated from the law department of Transylvania College, Lexington, Kentucky, in 1840.

[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1840 and commenced practice in Gallatin, Mississippi.

He was Circuit judge of the second district from 1844 to 1850 and served as member of the State constitutional conventions in 1850, 1861, and 1890.

[2] He continued the practice of law in Jackson, and died there on December 3, 1891.