Harris Flanagin

Harris Flanagin
7th Governor of Arkansas
In office November 15, 1862 – April 18, 1864
Preceded by	Henry Rector
Succeeded by	Isaac Murphy
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
In office 1842-1844
Personal details
Born	November 3, 1817 Cumberland County, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	October 23, 1874 (aged 56) Arkadelphia, Arkansas, U.S.
Resting place	Rose Hill Cemetery, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Martha Flanagin (m. 1851)
Religion	Presbyterian
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Provisional Army of the Confederate States
Years of service	1861–1862
Rank	Colonel
Commands	2d Arkansas Mounted Rifles
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Harris Flanagin (November 3, 1817 – October 23, 1874) was a American politician and a member of the Democratic Party, who served as the 7th Governor of Arkansas from 1862 to 1864.

Early life and education

Flanagin was born in Roadstown, New Jersey, and educated in Quaker schools in New Jersey.^[1] At the age of eighteen, he became a professor of mathematics. Flanagin moved west and opened his own private school in Paoli, Illinois. He studied law and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1837. He married Martha Eliza Nash. Flanagin moved to Arkansas and entered politics. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1842 to 1844.^[2]

American Civil War

During the American Civil War, he served in the Confederate States Army as a Captain and rose to the rank of Colonel before the conflict was over. He served with the 2nd Arkansas Mounted Rifles.^[3] In 1862, Flanagin was elected Governor of Arkansas and was recalled from active duty to take office.^[4] His administration dealt primarily with war related measures and maintaining order and continuing government while undergoing an invasion. His administration was faced with shortages of critical items, rising prices, care of fallen soldier's families, and related problems. During the war the government was forced to suspend the collection of taxes and financed the war with paper "war bonds".^[5] The capitol at Little Rock, Arkansas fell to Union troops on September 10, 1863. Flanagin seized as many government documents as he could and fled to Washington, Arkansas where he set up a temporary capitol.^[6] While Flanagin stayed in Confederate controlled territory, a new Union government under Isaac Murphy was inaugurated on April 18, 1864.

Later years

After the war, Flanagin returned to his law practice in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Arkadelphia.^[7]

See also

• List of Governors of Arkansas

Notes

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service".

References

1. "Arkansas Governor Harris Flanagin". National Governors Association. Retrieved December 2014.
2. Newberry, Farrar. “Harris Flanagin.” Arkansas Historical Quarterly 17 (Spring 1955): 3–20.
3. Harrell, John M., "Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History", Volume 10.2, Arkansas, Page 321, Accessed 1 August 2011, http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2001.05.0254%3Achapter%3D11%3Apage%3D321
4. Yearns, W. Buck, ed. The Confederate Governors. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1985.
5. Newberry, Farrar. “Harris Flanagin.” Arkansas Historical Quarterly 17 (Spring 1955): 3–20.
6. "Harris T Flanagin". Find A Grave. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
7. Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry: Harris Flanagin

External links

Harris Flanagin at Find a Grave

• Harris Flanagin at the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
• Harris Flanagin at the National Governors Association