Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791

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Benjamin Harrison V (April 5, 1726 – April 24, 1791) was an American planter, merchant and politician who served as a legislator in colonial Virginia, following a precedent of public service established by his namesakes. He signed both the Continental Association and the United States Declaration of Independence and is known as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He served as Virginia's governor from 1781 to 1784.

Harrison worked an aggregate of three decades in the Virginia House of Burgesses, representing Surry County and Charles City County. He was among the early patriots to formally protest measures that King George III and the British Parliament imposed upon the American colonies, leading to the American Revolution. Harrison was a slaveholder, but in 1772 he joined a petition to the king, requesting that he abolish the slave trade.

As a delegate to the Continental Congress and chairman of its Committee of the whole, Harrison attended and presided over the final debate of the Declaration of Independence. He was one of its signers in 1776. The Declaration included a foundational philosophy of the United States: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Harrison was elected as Virginia's fifth governor; his administration was marked by its futile struggle with a state treasury decimated by the Revolutionary War. He later returned to the Virginia House for two final terms. In disagreement with his normal ally George Washington, Harrison in 1788 cast one of his last votes in opposition to the nation's Constitution, for its lack of a bill of rights. Despite his chronic gout and weakened financial condition, Harrison continued his work in the House. He died on April 24, 1791 at his home after celebrating a re-election and was buried at his home.

A member of the Harrison family of Virginia, two of his descendants became United States presidents— son William Henry Harrison and great-grandson Benjamin Harrison.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Bland family papers 1665-1912 1778-1834 Bland family papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Land grant to Charles Grenshaw, 1784 September 16. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. ALS : Richmond, Va., to Robert Morris, Philadelphia, 1781 Dec. 28. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Davie, Preston, 1881-1967. Papers, 1749-1846. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Hooper, William, 1742-1790. ALS, 1777 February 1, Baltimore, to Robert Morris. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Nathanael Greene Papers, 1775-1785 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph letter signed : Richmond, to Colonel Samuel Smith in Baltimore, 1786 July 30. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Virginia. Governor's Office. Autographs, 1784-1865. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791. Papers, 1780-1785. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Harry Innes Papers, 1754-1900, (bulk 1780-1850) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Harrison family. Harrison family papers, 1701-1910 (bulk 1780-1880). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Astor, William Waldorf Astor, Viscount, 1848-1919,. Collection of miscellaneous letters [manuscript], 1785-1916. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Harding, Charlotte Hanes, 1873-1951. Autographs collection, 1744-1928 Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Bassett, Burwell, 1764-1841. Burwell Bassett family papers, 1695-1840. Library of Congress
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph letter signed, 1779 Nov. 6. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Papers. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph receipt signed : [n.p.], 1779 Feb. 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph letter signed, 1782 May 27. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Benjamin Harrison (1726-1791) miscellany, 1783, 1933 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn U.S. History mss., 1612-1977 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. ADS, [between 1774-1778], [s.l.]. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. ALS, 1782 June 23, Virginia, to George Washington. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume 13, Miscellany, 1771-1832 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Benjamin Harrison Land Grant, 1784 September 16 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Land grant to Robert McElhany [manuscript], 1784 May 1. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Prentis family. Papers, 1742-1828. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791. Letter, 1782 March 23. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter, 1780 November 14, to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, Richmond, [Virginia]. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Madison, James, 1751-1836. Letter to Benjamin Harrison [manuscript], 1782 May 14. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Papers of Benjamin Harrison, 1779-1788 (bulk 1779-1783). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Hall, John, Lieutenant. Militia commission, 1783 January 21. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Morris, Robert, 1734-1806. Robert Morris papers, 1751-1802. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807. Letter, 1782 February 9, Williamsburgh, [Va.], to Governor [Benjamin] Harrison. University of Toledo, William S. Carlson Library
referencedIn Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786. Papers of Nathanael Greene, 1781-1782. Library of Congress
creatorOf Benjamin Harrison Papers, 1780-1948, (bulk 1853-1901) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Todd, Thomas. Thomas Todd vs. William Bush papers, 1780-1809. University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Taylor-Cannon family. Taylor-Cannon family papers, 1741-1949. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn William Henry Harrison-related pictures [graphic], ca. 1836-1950 bulk 1840-1841. Indiana Historical Society Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph letter signed : Berkely, Virginia, 1777 Nov. 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Letter to Thomas Jefferson, 1781 October 11. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Harrison family. Papers, 1774-1776, 1785, 1794-1795. Library of Virginia
referencedIn John Holker Papers, 1777-1822 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889. Louisa County, Va., papers [manuscript], 1751-1864. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Vol. ii. (ff. 480). 1776-May, 1777.Louis XVI of France: Negotiations with America, during the war: 1777.British America, and United States: Papers, etc., relating to the war and public affairs: 1776-1781.includes:ff. 1, 5, 18, 102, 141, 288, 289 Fred..., 1776-1777 British Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791. Will: Berkeley, Charles City County, Virginia, 1780 January 3. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Dinwiddie, Robert, 1693-1770,. Deeds and land grants collected by John Linn Hurt, Jr. [manuscript], 755-1831. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Hunter, William, d. 1761. Printing office journal, 1750-1752. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Madison, James, 1751-1836. Papers of James Madison [manuscript], 1765-1836, n.d. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume IV, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Campbell, Arthur, 1742-1811. Arthur Campbell Papers, 1752-1811. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Virginia. Governor (1781-1784 : Harrison). Decree : legal document, 1782. Kentucky Historical Society, Martin F. Schmidt Research Library
referencedIn Bamberger, Louis, 1855-1944,. Autograph collection, 1683-1929. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Taylor, Merritt Harrison, 1899-1963. Papers, 1930-1968. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Robert Morris papers, 1751-1802 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Major family. Papers, 1787-1929. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph letter signed : Richmond, to Mr. Samuel Myers, 1790 Jan. 16th. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Shelby Family Papers, 1738-1916, (bulk 1757-1829) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Washington, George, 1732-1799. Letters and hair, 1778-1891. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
referencedIn Blount, William, 1749-1800. Draper manuscripts: Tennessee papers, 1771-1883. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph letter signed : in council, to Col. Arthur Campbell, 1782 Feb. 13. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. LS, 1783 Oct. 17, Richmond, Va., to the governor of another state. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to Benjamin Harrison [manuscript], 1782 September 22. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Baird, John, fl. 1784. Virginia documents [manuscript], 1767-1784. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Papers, 1742-1828. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Randolph family. Estate-farm account book, 1783-1829. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume IX, Miscellany, 1766-1808 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Fitch, John, 1743-1798. John Fitch : miscellaneous papers, 1782-1814. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Letter to Robert Morris and portrait, 1776 September 13 and n.d. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Louisa County, Va., papers, 1751-1821. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Scott, Charles, ca. 1739-1813. Autograph note signed : [n.p.], 1782 Dec. 6. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Draper, Lyman Copeland, 1815-1891,. Draper manuscripts: George Rogers Clark papers, 1756-1891. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Letters and documents of signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1750-1933. Houghton Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume III, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 8 -- Letters to Franklin, 1783 December-1786 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Braxton, Carter, 1736-1797. Letter to [Landon Carter?], 1776 October 17. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to Edmund Pendleton, 1776 Feb. 13. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates. Printed invitation, n.d., to an entertainment at the Capitol. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Land grant to Robert McElhany, 1784 May 1. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Anderson, James, 1774-1805. Account book, 1788 [1795-1799]. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn College of William and Mary. Bursar's ledger, 1763-1770. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Filippo Mazzei papers, 1775-1785. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Estate-farm Account Book, 1783-1829. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Madison, James, 1751-1836. Letter to Benjamin Harrison, 1782 May 14. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Land title, 1782. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Palfrey family papers, 1713-1915 Houghton Library
creatorOf Braxton, Carter, 1736-1797. Letter to Benjamin Harrison, 1783 June 24. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. Autograph letter signed : Virginia, 1778 Mar. 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Barbour, James, 1775-1842. Virginia documents, 1770-1913. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Printed Invitation to an Entertainment at the Capitol, n.d. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Randolph, Ryland. Catalog of sale for "Turkey Island" estate [manuscript], 1785 March 14. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter, 1779 June 8, "In Council," to Benja[min] Harrison, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Tazewell family. Papers, 1790-1848. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Ellis family. Papers of the Ellis family, 1780-1869. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Virginia. Governor (1781-1784 : Harrison). Bounty certificate, 1783 Sept. 13, Williamsburg, Va. to Francis Turner. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Filippo Mazzei papers, 1775-1785 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Tazewell family. Papers, 1772-1866. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Harrison, Benjamin, ca. 1726-1791. ALS, 1777 Dec. 18, Williamsburg, Va., to Robert Morris, Manheim, Pa. Rosenbach Museum & Library
Role Title Holding Repository

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associatedWith Adams, John, 1735-1826. person
associatedWith Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803. person
associatedWith Anderson, James, 1774-1805. person
associatedWith Bamberger, Louis, 1855-1944, person
associatedWith Barron, James, 1740-1787. person
parentOf Bassett, Ann. person
correspondedWith Bassett, Burwell, 1764-1841. person
parentOf Bassett, Carter. person
associatedWith Bland family family
associatedWith Braxton, Carter, 1736-1797. person
associatedWith Brock, R. A. (Robert Alonzo), 1839-1914 person
correspondedWith Campbell, Arthur, 1742-1811. person
associatedWith Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810. person
associatedWith College of William and Mary. corporateBody
associatedWith Coupland, Ann. person
associatedWith Davie, Preston, 1881-1967. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Ellis family. family
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Fitch, John, 1743-1798. person
associatedWith Fitzhugh, William, 1741-1809. person
associatedWith Fleming, William, 1736-1824. person
associatedWith Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 person
correspondedWith Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786. person
associatedWith Grenshaw, Charles. person
associatedWith Hall, John, Lieutenant. person
associatedWith Harding, Charlotte, 1873-1951, person
parentOf Harrison, Carter Bassett. person
memberOf Harrison family. family
associatedWith Harrison, Sarah. person
parentOf Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841. person
associatedWith Holker, John, 1745-1822. person
associatedWith Hooper, William, 1742-1790. person
associatedWith Howe, Richard Howe, Earl, 1726-1799. person
associatedWith Hubbard, John, collector. person
associatedWith Hunter, William, d. 1761. person
correspondedWith Innes, Harry, 1752-1816. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Jones, Gabriel, 1724-1806. person
associatedWith Jones, Joseph, 1727-1805. person
associatedWith Levy, Benjamin, fl. 1765-1776. person
associatedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836. person
associatedWith Madison, Rowalnd. person
associatedWith Major family. family
associatedWith Mazzei, Filippo, 1730-1816. person
associatedWith McElhany, Robert, fl. 1780. person
associatedWith Morris, Robert, 1734-1806, person
associatedWith Myers, Samuel, person
correspondedWith Palfrey family. family
associatedWith Prentis family. family
associatedWith Prentis Family. family
associatedWith Randolph family. family
associatedWith Randolph Family. family
associatedWith Randolph, Lucy. person
associatedWith Randolph, Ryland. person
associatedWith Randolph, William. person
associatedWith Rickman, Elizabeth. person
associatedWith Roberts, Joseph, fl. 1754-1784. person
associatedWith Rochambeau, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de, 1725-1807. person
associatedWith Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, person
associatedWith Scott, Charles, ca. 1739-1813. person
correspondedWith Shelby family family
associatedWith Smith, Meriwether, 1730-1790. person
associatedWith Smith, Samuel, 1752-1839, person
associatedWith Taylor-Cannon family. person
associatedWith Taylor, Merritt Harrison, 1899-1963. person
associatedWith Tazewell family. family
associatedWith Todd, Thomas. person
associatedWith Tunstall, William, fl. 1784-1792. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Army corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Declaration of Independence corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. Board of Western Commissioners. corporateBody
memberOf Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates. person
associatedWith Virginia. Governor (1782 corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. Governor (1782 - 1784 : Harrison) corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. Governor's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. House of Delegates. corporateBody
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Willard, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1902- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Charles City County VA US
Surry County VA US
Charles City County VA US
Williamsburg VA US
Subject
Slavery
Slavery
African Americans
Businessmen
Coastwise shipping
Governors
Governors
Land grants
Land titles
Land use
Legislators
Military supplies
Real property
Slaves
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Governors
Merchants
Planter
State Representative
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Person

Birth 1726-04-05

Death 1791-04-24

Male

Americans,

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English

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