Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harris, John (1588?-1658)
HARRIS, JOHN (1588?–1658), warden of Winchester College, born at Hardwicke, Buckinghamshire, about 1588, was the son of Richard Harris, rector of Hardwicke. After being educated at Winchester College, where he entered as a scholar in 1599, he was fellow (1606-1622) of New College, Oxford, and proceeded M.A. on 23 Jan. 1611 (Wood, Fasti Oxon., ed. Bliss, i. 342). He became 'so admirable a Grecian and so noted a preacher that sir Hen. Savile used frequently to say that he was second to St. Chrysostome' (Wood, Athenae Oxon. ed. Bliss, iii. 455). In 1617 he was elected one of the university proctors and in 1619, being then B.D., was appointed regius professor of Greek. He resigned his professorship in June 1622, accepting the thirteenth prebendal stall of Combe in the church of Wells, which he exchanged for that of Whitchurch in February 1626-7 (Le Neve, Fasti, ed, Hardy. i. 203, 210). On 19 May 1628, being then D.D., he was made prebendary of the seventh stall in the church of Winchester (ib. iii. 38), and obtained the rectory of Meon-Stoke, Hampshire. In September 1630 he was elected warden of Winchester College, where he built 'the sick house.' During the civil war he sided with the presbyterians, was chosen one of the assembly of divines, took the covenant and other oaths, and so kept his wardenship. He died at Winchester on 11 Aug. 1658, aged 70, and was buried in the college chapel. He wrote 'A Short View of the Life and Virtues of Dr. Arthur Lake, sometime Bishop of Bath and Wells,' prefixed to the latter's 'Sermons,' fol. London, 1639, and several letters to William Twisse, which, with Twisse's answers, were published by Henry Jeanes, fol., Oxford, 1653.
[Authorities as above; Kirby's Winchester Scholars, pp. 2, 158.]