Benjamin Harrison VI: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|American politician}} |
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{{Infobox person |
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| ⚫ | '''Benjamin Harrison VI''' (1755–1799) was an |
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| name = Benjamin Harrison VI |
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He married Susanna Randolph, a direct descendant from Indian Princess [[Pocahontas]]. |
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| caption = Portrait of Harrison by [[Charles Willson Peale]] |
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| birth_date = 1755 |
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| birth_place = [[Berkeley Plantation]] |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1799|1755}} |
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| death_place = Charles County, Virginia |
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| parents = [[Benjamin Harrison V]] <br />Elizabeth Bassett |
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| family = [[Harrison family of Virginia]] |
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}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Benjamin Carter Harrison VI''' (1755–1799) was an American merchant, planter, politician, and [[American Revolution|revolutionary]]. He was a son of [[Founding Father of the United States|Founding Father]] [[Benjamin Harrison V]], a signer of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]. Harrison was a close friend of financier [[Robert Morris (merchant)|Robert Morris]], a relationship that he would keep until his death. He was an older brother of President [[William Henry Harrison]] and a grand-uncle of President [[Benjamin Harrison]]. |
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==Life== |
==Life== |
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Benjamin Harrison VI was born at [[Berkeley Plantation]], the ancestral home of the [[Harrison family of Virginia]], in 1755. His family, the Harrison family of Virginia, was one of the [[First Families of Virginia]], and were among the most wealthy and prosperous people in the state. Benjamin Harrison VI's father was [[Benjamin Harrison V]], a wealthy planter and slave owner, who would later become one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. His mother, Elizabeth Basset (13 December 1730 – 1792), was a descendant of Captain William Bassett II, who was an officer in the [[Cavalier|King's Army]], during the [[English Civil War]]. |
Benjamin Harrison VI was born at [[Berkeley Plantation]], the ancestral home of the [[Harrison family of Virginia]], in 1755. His family, the Harrison family of Virginia, was one of the [[First Families of Virginia]], and were among the most wealthy and prosperous people in the state. Benjamin Harrison VI's father was [[Benjamin Harrison V]] (1726–1791), a wealthy planter and slave owner, who would later become one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. His mother, Elizabeth Basset (13 December 1730 – 1792), was a descendant of Captain William Bassett II, who was an officer in the [[Cavalier|King's Army]], during the [[English Civil War]]. |
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When Harrison VI became a young adult, his father lost a considerable amount of property, supposedly due to his lack of mercantile skills, and sent his son away to the [[Philadelphia]]-based firm Willing and Morris, where he earned an exceptional mercantile education, and befriended [[Robert Morris (merchant)|Robert Morris]] and [[Thomas Willing]], the firm's owners. Their friendships would continue to hold strong throughout their lives. |
When Harrison VI became a young adult, his father lost a considerable amount of property, supposedly due to his lack of mercantile skills, and sent his son away to the [[Philadelphia]]-based firm Willing and Morris, where he earned an exceptional mercantile education, and befriended [[Robert Morris (merchant)|Robert Morris]] and [[Thomas Willing]], the firm's owners. Their friendships would continue to hold strong throughout their lives. |
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After his education concluded, Harrison traveled to Europe, and began building mercantile connections, as well as his fortune. However, the [[American Revolutionary War]] prompted him to return home to [[Virginia]], as he strongly wanted to aid his father and the [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriot]] cause. From 1774 to 1775, he was a member of the [[Charles City County]] Committee, as well as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. During the war, he became the Deputy Paymaster General of the Continental Army,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charlescity.org/rwr/ |title=Revolutionary War Roster |publisher=Charles City County 2007 Planning Committee |accessdate=September 1, 2014 |quote=... men holding important jobs, like Benjamin Harrison, VI, Deputy Paymaster of the Army, were not exempted from the draft.}}</ref> helping finance and pay the [[Continental Army]] during the [[Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War|Southern theater]]. |
After his education concluded, Harrison traveled to Europe, and began building mercantile connections, as well as his fortune. However, the [[American Revolutionary War]] prompted him to return home to [[Virginia]], as he strongly wanted to aid his father and the [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriot]] cause. From 1774 to 1775, he was a member of the [[Charles City County]] Committee, as well as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. During the war, he became the Deputy Paymaster General of the Continental Army,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charlescity.org/rwr/ |title=Revolutionary War Roster |publisher=Charles City County 2007 Planning Committee |accessdate=September 1, 2014 |quote=... men holding important jobs, like Benjamin Harrison, VI, Deputy Paymaster of the Army, were not exempted from the draft. |archive-date=August 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817181102/http://www.charlescity.org/rwr/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> helping finance and pay the [[Continental Army]] during the [[Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War|Southern theater]]. |
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After the war, Harrison settled in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] and established himself as a successful merchant, and soon thereafter amassed a large amount of wealth. Later in life, his friend, Robert Morris, was in bad financial shape, so Benjamin took it upon himself to save his friend from ruin. He gave Morris a sizable portion of his fortune to aid him, and the latter was forever grateful. In 1790, he took over the ownership of Berkeley Plantation from his aging father, and began a large-scale renovation, adding handsome [[Federal architecture|Adam woodwork]] and the double arches of the "Great Rooms" inside the mansion. |
After the war, Harrison settled in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] and established himself as a successful merchant, and soon thereafter amassed a large amount of wealth. Later in life, his friend, Robert Morris, was in bad financial shape, so Benjamin took it upon himself to save his friend from ruin. He gave Morris a sizable portion of his fortune to aid him, and the latter was forever grateful. In 1790, he took over the ownership of Berkeley Plantation from his aging father, and began a large-scale renovation, adding handsome [[Federal architecture|Adam woodwork]] and the double arches of the "Great Rooms" inside the mansion. |
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==Benjamin Harrison VI's family== |
==Benjamin Harrison VI's family== |
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Benjamin Harrison VI married |
Benjamin Harrison VI married twice. First, in 1776, Harrison married Susannah Randolph (1752–1781), a daughter of Richard Randolph II, who was a [[Slavery in the United States|slave trader]] and the son of [[Richard Randolph|Richard Randolph of Curles]]. They were direct descendants from Indian Princess [[Pocahontas]]. After his first wife’s death he married a woman called Anna Mercer (1760–1787), who died in 1787, days after giving birth to a son, Benjamin Harrison VII (1787–1842). His second wife Anna Mercer was daughter of colonial lawyer [[John Mercer (colonial lawyer)|John Mercer]] (1704–1768) and sister of military officer [[George Mercer (military officer)|George Mercer]] (1733–1784), judge [[James Mercer (judge)|James Mercer]] (1736–1793) and tenth governor of Maryland [[John Francis Mercer]] (1759–1821). Some sources say that Harrison had another son, William Henry Harrison, whom he named after his [[William Henry Harrison|brother]]. |
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After his second wife's death in 1781, Benjamin fathered a son, [[Benjamin Harrison VII]] (1787 - 1842), with his first wife, Anna. However, some sources say that Harrison had another son, William Henry Harrison, whom he named after his [[William Henry Harrison|brother]]. |
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==Legacy== |
==Legacy== |
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[[File:Declaration of Independence (1819), by John Trumbull.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[John Trumbull]]'s ''[[Declaration of Independence (Trumbull)|Declaration of Independence]]'' – Benjamin Harrison is seated at the table far left]] |
[[File:Declaration of Independence (1819), by John Trumbull.jpg|thumb|right|350px|[[John Trumbull]]'s ''[[Declaration of Independence (Trumbull)|Declaration of Independence]]'' – Benjamin Harrison is seated at the table far left]] |
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Benjamin Harrison VI's accomplishments, compared to his father's and his |
Benjamin Harrison VI's accomplishments, compared to his father's, his brother's, and his grandnephew's, have been less prominent in the annals of American history. However, one interesting fact about him was that when [[John Trumbull]] was painting his [[Declaration of Independence (Trumbull)|massive portrait of the signing of the Declaration of Independence]], he had no portrait of signer Benjamin Harrison V to work with. So, his son, Benjamin Harrison VI, who was said to have a striking resemblance to his father, was used as his model.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Greene|first1=Meg|last2=Stathakis|first2=Paula|title=The Everything Founding Fathers Book: All you need to know about the men who shaped America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VBUIjRZLPBUC&pg=PA159|date=18 June 2011|publisher=Adams Media|isbn=9781440526626|page=159}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{William Henry Harrison|state=collapsed}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Benjamin, VI}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Benjamin, VI}} |
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[[Category:Harrison family of Virginia|Benjamin, VI]] |
[[Category:Harrison family of Virginia|Benjamin, VI]] |
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[[Category:People of Virginia in the American Revolution]] |
[[Category:People of Virginia in the American Revolution]] |
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[[Category:American planters]] |
[[Category:18th-century American planters]] |
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[[Category:Date of birth missing]] |
[[Category:Date of birth missing]] |
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[[Category:Date of death missing]] |
[[Category:Date of death missing]] |
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Latest revision as of 12:39, 29 October 2024
Benjamin Harrison VI | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Harrison by Charles Willson Peale | |
| Born | 1755 |
| Died | 1799 (aged 43–44) Charles County, Virginia |
| Parent(s) | Benjamin Harrison V Elizabeth Bassett |
| Family | Harrison family of Virginia |
Benjamin Carter Harrison VI (1755–1799) was an American merchant, planter, politician, and revolutionary. He was a son of Founding Father Benjamin Harrison V, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Harrison was a close friend of financier Robert Morris, a relationship that he would keep until his death. He was an older brother of President William Henry Harrison and a grand-uncle of President Benjamin Harrison.
Life
[edit]Benjamin Harrison VI was born at Berkeley Plantation, the ancestral home of the Harrison family of Virginia, in 1755. His family, the Harrison family of Virginia, was one of the First Families of Virginia, and were among the most wealthy and prosperous people in the state. Benjamin Harrison VI's father was Benjamin Harrison V (1726–1791), a wealthy planter and slave owner, who would later become one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. His mother, Elizabeth Basset (13 December 1730 – 1792), was a descendant of Captain William Bassett II, who was an officer in the King's Army, during the English Civil War.
When Harrison VI became a young adult, his father lost a considerable amount of property, supposedly due to his lack of mercantile skills, and sent his son away to the Philadelphia-based firm Willing and Morris, where he earned an exceptional mercantile education, and befriended Robert Morris and Thomas Willing, the firm's owners. Their friendships would continue to hold strong throughout their lives.
After his education concluded, Harrison traveled to Europe, and began building mercantile connections, as well as his fortune. However, the American Revolutionary War prompted him to return home to Virginia, as he strongly wanted to aid his father and the Patriot cause. From 1774 to 1775, he was a member of the Charles City County Committee, as well as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. During the war, he became the Deputy Paymaster General of the Continental Army,[1] helping finance and pay the Continental Army during the Southern theater.
After the war, Harrison settled in Richmond and established himself as a successful merchant, and soon thereafter amassed a large amount of wealth. Later in life, his friend, Robert Morris, was in bad financial shape, so Benjamin took it upon himself to save his friend from ruin. He gave Morris a sizable portion of his fortune to aid him, and the latter was forever grateful. In 1790, he took over the ownership of Berkeley Plantation from his aging father, and began a large-scale renovation, adding handsome Adam woodwork and the double arches of the "Great Rooms" inside the mansion.
In 1799, after years of hard work and success, Benjamin Harrison VI died in Charles City, Virginia, at the age of 44. His legitimate son, Benjamin Harrison VII, survived him.
Benjamin Harrison VI's family
[edit]Benjamin Harrison VI married twice. First, in 1776, Harrison married Susannah Randolph (1752–1781), a daughter of Richard Randolph II, who was a slave trader and the son of Richard Randolph of Curles. They were direct descendants from Indian Princess Pocahontas. After his first wife’s death he married a woman called Anna Mercer (1760–1787), who died in 1787, days after giving birth to a son, Benjamin Harrison VII (1787–1842). His second wife Anna Mercer was daughter of colonial lawyer John Mercer (1704–1768) and sister of military officer George Mercer (1733–1784), judge James Mercer (1736–1793) and tenth governor of Maryland John Francis Mercer (1759–1821). Some sources say that Harrison had another son, William Henry Harrison, whom he named after his brother.
Legacy
[edit],_by_John_Trumbull.jpg)
Benjamin Harrison VI's accomplishments, compared to his father's, his brother's, and his grandnephew's, have been less prominent in the annals of American history. However, one interesting fact about him was that when John Trumbull was painting his massive portrait of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, he had no portrait of signer Benjamin Harrison V to work with. So, his son, Benjamin Harrison VI, who was said to have a striking resemblance to his father, was used as his model.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Revolutionary War Roster". Charles City County 2007 Planning Committee. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
... men holding important jobs, like Benjamin Harrison, VI, Deputy Paymaster of the Army, were not exempted from the draft.
- ^ Greene, Meg; Stathakis, Paula (18 June 2011). The Everything Founding Fathers Book: All you need to know about the men who shaped America. Adams Media. p. 159. ISBN 9781440526626.[permanent dead link]
- 1755 births
- 1799 deaths
- American people of English descent
- Members of the Virginia House of Delegates
- Harrison family of Virginia
- People of Virginia in the American Revolution
- 18th-century American planters
- People from Charles City County, Virginia
- Politicians from Richmond, Virginia
- People from Charles City, Virginia
- 18th-century American politicians