Cornelius Harnett
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Harnett was an American
merchant, farmer, and statesman from Wilmington, North Carolina
. He was a leading American Revolution
ary in the Cape Fear
region, and a delegate for North Carolina
in the Continental Congress
from 1777 to 1779.
Harnett was born to Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett in Chowan County, North Carolina
. Soon after he was born, his parents moved to Wilmington. He became a leading merchant there, and was interested in farming, milling
, and mercantile ventures. In 1750 he became involved in public affairs when he was elected Wilmington town commissioner. He was appointed a justice of the peace
for New Hanover County
by Governor
Gabriel Johnston
. Harnett was elected to represent Wilmington in the North Carolina General Assembly
in 1754.
In 1765, Harnett became the chairman of the Sons of Liberty
, and was a leader in the resistance to the Stamp Act
. In 1775-1776, he served as the first president of the North Carolina Provincial Council, or Council of Safety, essentially the chief executive of the revolutionary state, although with limited powers. In 1776 he was excepted by Sir Henry Clinton
from his proclamation of general amnesty.
He was a member of the Continental Congress
for 1777-1779.
In 1781 he was captured by the British
upon their occupation of Wilmington
in January. His health steadily declined while imprisoned.
He died April 28, 1781 , shortly after being released on parole. He was buried in St. James Episcopal Church
in Wilmington, North Carolina
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
merchant, farmer, and statesman from Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
. He was a leading American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
ary in the Cape Fear
Cape Fear (region)
Cape Fear is a coastal plain and tidewater region of North Carolina centered about the city of Wilmington. The region takes its name from the adjacent Cape Fear headland, as does the Cape Fear River which flows through the region and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near the cape...
region, and a delegate for North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
from 1777 to 1779.
Harnett was born to Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett in Chowan County, North Carolina
Chowan County, North Carolina
- Law and government :Chowan County is a member of the Albemarle Commission regional council of government-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 14,793 people, 5,580 households, and 4,006 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There...
. Soon after he was born, his parents moved to Wilmington. He became a leading merchant there, and was interested in farming, milling
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
, and mercantile ventures. In 1750 he became involved in public affairs when he was elected Wilmington town commissioner. He was appointed a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for New Hanover County
New Hanover County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile . There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 per square mile...
by Governor
Governor (United States)
In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state or insular territory, not directly subordinate to the federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the state.-Role and powers:...
Gabriel Johnston
Gabriel Johnston
Gabriel Johnston was the colonial governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752, the longest-serving governor in state history.- External links :*...
. Harnett was elected to represent Wilmington in the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
in 1754.
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group made up of American patriots that originated in the pre-independence North American British colonies. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations by the British government after 1766...
, and was a leader in the resistance to the Stamp Act
Stamp Act
A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. Those that pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents. The taxes raised under a stamp act are called stamp duty. This system of taxation was first devised...
. In 1775-1776, he served as the first president of the North Carolina Provincial Council, or Council of Safety, essentially the chief executive of the revolutionary state, although with limited powers. In 1776 he was excepted by Sir Henry Clinton
Henry Clinton (American War of Independence)
General Sir Henry Clinton KB was a British army officer and politician, best known for his service as a general during the American War of Independence. First arriving in Boston in May 1775, from 1778 to 1782 he was the British Commander-in-Chief in North America...
from his proclamation of general amnesty.
He was a member of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
for 1777-1779.
In 1781 he was captured by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
upon their occupation of Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
in January. His health steadily declined while imprisoned.
He died April 28, 1781 , shortly after being released on parole. He was buried in St. James Episcopal Church
St. James Episcopal Church (Wilmington, North Carolina)
St. James Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church in the historic district of Wilmington, North Carolina. The church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina and is the oldest church in the city of Wilmington.- History :...
in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
.
External links
- Excerpt from "Dictionary of North Carolina Biography" (ISBN 0-8078-1918-2)
- Cornelius Harnett Letters, #311-z at the Southern Historical CollectionSouthern Historical CollectionThe Southern Historical Collection is a repository of distinct archival collections at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which document the culture and history of the American South...
, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill