Governor-General
A member of the Woodrow Wilson Administration, Harrison became Governor-General of the Philippines from 1913 to 1921. He was known for advancing the process of Filipinization, the increased transfer of authority to Filipinos in the colonial government so as to better prepare the country for independence by providing its people more experience through actual governing. Despite the length of his tenure as governor-general he vetoed only five bills, the least number by any American governor-general in the Philippines. His pro-Filipino stance made him a popular figure in the Philippines but also the object of criticism of conservative Americans who viewed his liberal governance as not supportive enough of U.S. interests.
Under his administration, the Governor-General's mansion called Malacañan Palace was expanded with the construction of an executive building. Departing from the position, Harrison lived in Scotland until being recalled to the Philippines in 1934. The Philippines would be transitioned from United States territory to commonwealth with an elected Filipino government.
Manuel L. Quezon became the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and Harrison was asked to be Quezon's principal advisor in November 1935. He served in that capacity for ten months. He was also made an honorary Filipino citizen. Harrison would return to the position of advisor upon Quezon's request in May 1942, when Filipino and American troops surrendered the Philippines during World War II. Harrison would serve the government-in-exile.
From November 1946 to February 1947, Harrison served as Commissioner of Claims in the civil service of the United States Army in Manila. He later served as an advisor to the first four presidents of the newly proclaimed Philippine Republic after their independence was granted in 1946.
After his service to the Philippines at Malacañan Palace, Harrison retired to Spain for six years, then chose to move to Califon, New Jersey in August 1957.
Read more about this topic: Francis Burton Harrison