Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary, a global service organisation that aims to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service and promote goodwill and peace around the world.
Harris was born on April 19, 1868, in Racine, Wisconsin, USA, and grew up in Vermont. He attended Princeton University and later studied law at the University of Iowa.
After practicing law for several years in Chicago, Harris and three other businessmen founded the first Rotary club in Chicago in 1905. The name "Rotary" was derived from the practice of rotating meetings among members' offices. Harris served as the first president of Rotary International from 1910 to 1912 and continued to be actively involved in the organization until his death in 1947.
He is remembered as a visionary leader who saw the potential of business and professional leaders to make a positive impact on their communities and the world.