Sir Paul Harris, 2nd Baronet (December 1595 – July 1644) was an English baronet and
Surveyor of the Ordnance.
He was the second son of Sir Thomas Harris, 1st Baronet, of Shropshire, whom he succeeded as 2nd Baronet in January 1628/9 after the early death of his elder brother John. He was educated at
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13 –18) in Shrewsbury.
Founded in 1552 by Edward VI by Royal Charter, it was originally a boarding school for boys; girls have been admitted into ...
and knighted in 1625.
In 1628 he was appointed Surveyor of the Ordnance, responsible for checking deliveries of new arms and other ordnance to the crown. He was appointed
High Sheriff of Shropshire
This is a list of sheriffs and high sheriffs of Shropshire
The sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the high sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibil ...
for 1637–38.
At the outbreak of the
English Civil War
The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...
Sir Paul declared for the Royalists and signed the Declaration and Protestation of the Gentlemen of Salop in 1642. He was replaced as Surveyor in 1643 by Parliamentary appointees and had his lands confiscated by Parliament for his loyalty to the deposed king.
He died in 1644 and was buried at Baschurch, Shropshire. He had married twice; firstly Anne, daughter of William Brett of Rotherby, Leicestershire and widow of Richard Paul and secondly Anne, the daughter of William Caulfeild. By his first wife he had 4 sons and 4 daughters, including his heir and successor Sir Thomas Harris, 3rd Baronet.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Paul
1595 births
1644 deaths
People educated at Shrewsbury School
Cavaliers
High Sheriffs of Shropshire
Baronets in the Baronetage of England