born in sheffield, england, he was the eldest of five children of professional cricketer samuel wright and his wife, annie tone wright. his family emigrated to the u.s. when he was nearly three years old, and his father found work as a bowler, coach, and groundskeeper at the st george's cricket club in new york. harry dropped out of school at age 14 to work for a jewelry manufacturer, and worked at tiffany's for several years.