In the field of law practice, where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit, learning and ability, Edward Avery Harriman of New Haven has won for himself a prominent position and his contributions to the literature of the profession are regarded as very valuable.

A native of Massachusetts, he was born in Framingham, December 31, 1869, the eldest of a family of five children. His father, Charles Franklin Harriman, came from Weare, New Hampshire, and his mother, Mary White (Conant) Harriman, from Worcester, Massachusetts. Charles Franklin Harriman, after being actively connected with manufacturing interests in Boston for years, there passed away in 1876, and his widow, surviving him for almost four decades, departed this life in Framingham in 1915.

Liberal educational opportunities were accorded Edward Avery Harriman. He pursued a literary course in Harvard, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in 1888, and he afterward studied in the University of Virginia and in the Cincinnati Law School before entering Boston University, in which he completed his preparation for the bar in 1891, receiving the LL. B. degree in 1894. He was admitted to practice at the Massachusetts bar in January, 1891, and through the following year was actively connected with the pro-fession in Kansas. In 1892 he became professor of law in the Northwestern University, so continuing until 1901 and at the same time engaging in active practice at the Chicago bar. He then returned to New England and has since followed his profession as a general practitioner in New Haven, having been a partner of Judge William H. Williams until the latter's election to the bench. His ability was demonstrated in the fact that he was chosen a lecturer of the Yale Law School in 1906 and was a member of its teaching staff until 1913. His practice has long been extensive and important. His legal learning, his analytical mind, the readiness with which lie grasps the points of an argument have gained him high standing among lawyers known for their ability. He is the author of a volume entitled "Law of Contracts," which was issued in its first edition in 1896, while a second edition was brought out in 1901. He is also the author of "Greenleaf on Evidence," volumes II and III. as published in the sixteenth edition. He is prominent in many organizations which draw their membership from the legal profession, including the American Bar Association, the International Law Association, the American Political Science Association, the American Judicature Society, the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology and the Ameri-can Society for the Judicial Settlement of International Disputes.

On the 31st of August, 1897, in Hartford, Connecticut, Mr. Harriman was married to Miss Bertha Cornwall Ray, of Chicago. They hold membership in Trinity church of New Haven, of which Mr. Harriman is a vestryman, and he is president of the Church Club of the Diocese of Connecticut. He is prominently known in various social organizations. He has membership in Harvard Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa, was the first president of the Harvard Club of Connecticut, holding that office in 1908-09, and was president of the New England Federation of Harvard Clubs in 1912-13, while in 1915-16 he acted as vice president of the Associated Harvard Clubs. He belongs to the Graduates' and Quinnipiac Clubs of New Haven and also to the Harvard Club and University Club of New York. His political endorse-ment is given to the republican party. He has been a close and discriminating student of those questions which most largely affect the welfare and progress of his country and is always to be found in those gatherings where intelligent men are met in the discussion of vital and farreaching subjects. With him every day must mark off a full-faithed attempt to know more and to grow more, and he has long swayed men with the force of his example.