George Chesley Harris (July 14, 1879 – January 28, 1954) was a merchant and politician in Newfoundland. He represented Burin in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1923 to 1924. The son of Samuel Harris, a merchant and ship owner, and Mary Forsey, he was born in

Grand Bank Grand Bank or 'Grand Banc' as the first French settlers pronounced it, is a small rural town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, with a population of 2,580. It is located on the southern tip or "toe" of the Burin Peninsula (al ...

and was educated there and at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. After completing a business course, Harris joined his father's export firm. In 1914, he became managing director for the company. The company expanded rapidly but a decline in market conditions and changes in government regulations led to the firm declaring bankruptcy in 1923. Harris began work in another of his father's companies, Western Marine Insurance Company, later becoming its president. In 1904, he married Charlotte "Lottie" Pitts Pratt, the sister of poet E. J. Pratt. Harris was elected to the Newfoundland assembly in 1923 as a

Liberal-Labour-Progressive {{Infobox political party , name = Newfoundland People's Party , colorcode = {{Canadian party colour, NF, People's , foundation = 1907 , ideology = Social democracyIrish Catholic interests , headquarters = St. John's , country = Canada , di ...

member. In 1924, his cousin

Albert Hickman Albert Edgar Hickman (August 2, 1875 – February 9, 1943) was the seventeenth Prime Minister of Newfoundland and has the distinction of having served the shortest term of any Prime Minister. Biography Albert Hickman was born in Grand Bank ...

became premier and Harris transferred his support to the new government leader. He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1924. Harris later campaigned in support of union with Canada. He was named Chief Returning Officer for the Canadian federal riding of

Burin—Burgeo Burin—Burgeo was a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that was represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1949 to 1979. This riding was created in 1949 when Newfoundland joined the Canadian Confederation. ...

in 1949 and served in that position again for the federal election held in 1953. His former home, the George C. Harris House, was designated a Registered Heritage Structure in 1993.

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* 1879 births 1954 deaths Newfoundland People's Party MHAs Dominion of Newfoundland people {{Newfoundland-politician-stub