George L. Harrison

Who was George L. Harrison?

Sir George Harrison was Lord Provost of Edinburgh and an independent Liberal politician.

Harrison was a merchant of Edinburgh. He was Lord Provost of the city for 1882 to 1885 and was responsible for the acquisition of Blackford Hill by the Corporation of Edinburgh. He was also particularly interested in education. His contributions to social life included providing the land for the Whitehouse and Grange Bowling club in 1872 and acting as president of the Edinburgh Chess Club from 1884 to 1886.

In 1885 Harrison was elected Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South. However he died at the age of 74 within a month of the election, and never took his seat.

He is buried in Warriston Cemetery just to the south-east of the vaults.

In 1888 the Harrison Arch was built "to commemorate the work and character of Sir George Harrison". It is a red sandstone triumphal arch. Two streets in Edinburgh — Harrison Road, and Harrison Gardens — were also named after him.