Paul Percival Harris, a lawyer, the Founder of Rotary was born in Racine, Wisconsin, USA on 19th April, 1868. Paul was the second of six children to mother Cornelia and father George Howard Harris. His boyhood was spent in the fields, forests and villages near Wallingford, Vermont, U.S.A. where he was raised by his paternal grandparents.

Though a lawyer, he worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy and as a salesman for marble and granite concerns. In 1896, he settled down to practice law in Chicago. Lonely in the midst of the crowded city, he tried to recreate the family spirit of his youth and sense of community. He called together three young businessmen and established on Thursday 23rd February 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, the first Rotary Club based on the “simple plan of mutual cooperation and informal friendship.Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer in whose office the historic event took place. Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor, Sylvester Schiele, a coal merchant, and Paul Harris, the lawyer himself became the first Rotarians. Paul was also prominent in other civic and professional works.

 He served as the first Chairman of the Board of the National Easter Seal of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association and its representative at the International Congress of Law at Hague and a committee member of the American Bar Association. He received the silve Buffalo Award from the Boy scouts of America for distinguished service to youth and was decorated by the governments of Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France and Peru. 

Paul considered Rotary philosophy as a spiritual force. He believed Rotary is neither a religion nor a substitute for religion. It is the working out of religious impulse in modern life and especially in business and international relations. Paul Harris was a prolific writer. He wrote about Rotary’s formation and philosophy. His Rotary travels “ My Road to Rotary” speaks of his own life. Paul was active in Rotary until his death on 27th January 1947. Paul married JeanThomas, a Scottish girl in 1910. The couple had no children. In the words of PRIPAngus S Mitchel (1948-49) “ Yes, the founder of Rotary was a simple man but one with a great vision, peaceful and a truly neighborly world.”