Harrington was born on August 10, 1878, in Fall River, Massachusetts. He attended parochial school and afterwards engaged in the business of real estate.[1]
Political career
In 1902, Harrington served on the Fall River city council. From 1903 to 1908, he was a member of the city's board of aldermen. From 1909 to 1924 he represented the 10th Bristol District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[1] In 1921 he was elected Democratic house floor leader.[2] From 1924 to 1928 he was the City Clerk of Fall River. In January 1929 he became Fall River's first ever city manager.[3] In 1930 he announced that he would not be a candidate for reappointment and was succeeded by former Watertown, New York, manager J. Walter Ackerman.[4]