Hardy, Samuel, 1758-1785

Samuel Hardy (June 10, 1758 – October 17, 1785) was an American lawyer, planter and politician, who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Isle of Wight County, as well as briefly on Virginia's Executive Council and as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.

Born in Isle of Wight County in the Colony of Virginia, Hardy received a private education suitable to his class, including studies at Virginia's College of William and Mary. Following admission to the Virginia bar on October 1, 1778, Hardy began a law practice. Two days later, voters in Isle of Wight County elected him to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates; Hardy served there until May 1779 and from May 1780 to May 1782. In June 1781, he began his brief service on Virginia's Executive Council; from May 29 to October 11, 1782, Hardy served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Elected to the Continental Congress from Virginia, Hardy served from 1783 until 1785. Hardy died in New York City while Congress was in session and is buried in St. Paul's Church Cemetery there.