HARRISON, THOMAS, generally c tiled Harrison of Chester,' from his residence iu that city, was born at Wakefield in Yorkshire, in 1714. While yet little more than a mere lad, he was sent to Italy, then considered almost the only efficient school for architectural study. During his stay at Rome, where he remained fur several years, be made designs for improving and embellishing the Piazza del Popolo, which obtained for him both a gold and silver medal from Pope 4anganelli; and he was also complimented by being elected a member of the Academy of St. Luke. On his return, one of his first works was a bridge of five arches over the Lune, at Lancaster, at which place he was subsequently employed upon various alterations and improvements in the castle. At Chester, he erected the pile known as the castle, which includes a jail, sbirehall, and military barracks. The Chester county courts was considered at the time a very fine and correct specimen of tho Grecian Doric style, and the portico certainly does produce more effect than ordinary in regard to columniation, for though only it has twelve columns, there beinga second row of six columns behind ' d those in front. The bridge
which he erected across the Dee near Chester castle, consisted of a single arch of 200 feet span, being the largest stone arch which had been constructed. It is a very handsome structure. Mr. Harrison executed several works at both Liverpool and Manchester ; in the former place the Athenteum, and the tower of St. Nicholas church; in the latter, the Exchange buildings (since greatly enlarged and altered), the theatre (burnt down in 1843, and now succeeded by the new structure by Messrs. Irwin and Chester, opened September 29, 1845); and the library and reading-room called the Portico. The Hill column at Shrewsbury, the triumphal arch at Holyhead, and the jubilee tower erected on Noel Famma in commemoration of the fiftieth year of the reign of George 1lL, are all by Harrison. He also built for the Earl of Elgin his new mansion of Broome Hall, in Scotland, in the Grecian Doric style, which seems to have been equally tire favourite one of his noble employer and himself. Harrison died at Chester, March 29, 1829.