(?-1864) A daguerreian and lens maker. Harrison first studied optics and lens making with Henry Fitz, the optician and telescope maker. Fitz had also worked with Wolcott on optics for his daguerreotype camera.
In 1846 he began daguerreotyping in New York City; one source indicates he operated both a daguerreotype studio and lens manufacturing plant at 45 Duane St. In 1847-1848 he was listed as "daguerreotypes" at the rear of 15 City Hall Place. In 1848-1849 he was again listed as daguerreotypes, both at the rear of 15 City Hall Place and at 289 Broadway. An alternate directory listed him at 289 Broadway and at 50 Reade Street, Room 55, in partnership as Harrison and Holmes (S.A.).
In 1849 he began the manufacture of high-quality cameras; and from 1849 to 1851 was listed as a daguerreian at 289 Broadway, in the Harrison and Holmes partnership. His residence was listed at 526 Pearl Street.
In 1850 he was awarded a silver medal at the American Institute for daguerreian apparatus. In 1850-1851 he was listed as a daguerreian, and daguerreian apparatus, at 293 Broadway and 85 Duane St., New York City. He lived at 162 Varick Street.
In 1851 he used Scovill Manufacturing Co. as the stockhouse agent for his apparatus. Also in 1851, Harrison sold his daguerreian gallery to George S. Cook.
In 1852-1853 he was listed as a manufacturer and dealer in daguerreian apparatus at 142 Chatham St. This was the address of W. and W.H. Lewis, whom Harrison bought out in 1852 in the name of the Gardner, Harrison & Co. An alternate directory for 1852-1853 listed him as a daguerreian and dealer in daguerreian apparatus, 85 Duane Street, with his residence in Jersey City, N.J.
In 1853 Harrison was awarded a bronze medal for his camera at N.Y. Crystal Palace Exhibition.
From 1853 to 1860, he was listed only as daguerreotype apparatus, at the corner of White and Elm Streets. In December, 1854, the factory was noted to be in the upper story of the railroad building, fronting on Centre, Elm, White and Walker Streets.
In 1855, Edward Anthony combined its camera factory with the optical shop of C.C. Harrison. Prior to this time, Scovill had acted as Harrison's sole agent. Subsequently Anthony also sold Harrison cameras.
One report in Humphrey's Journal in 1856 noted that Harrison "never made a camera in his life", although he was well known for his lenses.
In 1858, he was awarded a patent, with Schnitzer, for a lens diaphragm for cameras.
In 1860, Harrison was listed as daguerreian apparatus, East 53rd Street. In the same year, he began work with J. Schnitzer on their to-be-famous "Globe" lens; it was patented in 1862, #35,605. By the time the lens was patented in 1862, Anthony and Scovill had joint ownership of the Harrison operation, and it was sold to Nelson Wright. Harrison was retained as supervisor or production and lens designer. C.C. Harrison died November 23, 1864. To May 15, 1863, he made 8,817 lenses, and 387 Globe lenses.