Blennerhassett, Harman 1765-1831

Lawyer, planter, and scholar.

Harman Blennerhassett was an attorney born in County Cork, Ireland. He received his law degree from Trinity College in Dublin in 1790 and lived on the continent for several years afterward. In 1796, Blennerhassett married his niece, Margaret Agnew, daughter of Robert Agnew, the lieutenant-governor of the Isle of Man. Because of their marriage, the couple was ostracised by their families and settled in America. Blennerhassett bought an island in the Ohio River near what is now Parkersburg, West Virginia, and established an estate where he lived as a gentleman scholar. In 1805, Aaron Burr visited Blennerhassett and convinced him to be a part of Burr's scheme to set up a seperate country in the West. Blennerhassett supplied Burr with money and allowed his estate to be used as a rendevous point. When Burr's plan collapsed, he and Blennerhassett were arrested for treason and Blennerhassett's estate was occupied and plundered by the Virginia militia. Blennerhassett was released after the government failed to convict Burr and he moved to Misssissippi to become a cotton planter. He lost money as a planter and in 1819 moved to Montreal where he attempted to practice law. Blennerhassett returned to Ireland in 1822 and died on the Island of Guernsey.

Lawyer, planter, and associate of Aaron Burr.

Biographical Note