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Benjamin Harrison V
Member From: 1748 - 1791
- Birth Date: April 5, 1726 Birth Place:
- Death Date: April 24, 1791
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Elizabeth Bassett
- Children:
- Religion:
- Education: William and Mary
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession:
- Additional Info: Edward Brodnax died before the 1748 Assembly convened, and Benjamin Harrison succeeded him.
1781 - 1782 Assembly - Benjamin Harrison was elected governor on Nov. 30, 1781, and was succeeded by William Green Munford.
1791 Assembly - Benjamin Harrison was elected but died before the session began. Stith Hardyman was his successor.
* see below for more information
- Bio: Born at "Berkeley", Charles City County, Va., probably April 5, 1726. Died at "Berkeley", Charles City County, Va., April 24,1791. Buried probably at "Berkeley", Charles City County, Va. Benjamin Harrison of Charles City County was the son of Benjamin and Anne (Carter) Harrison, daughter of Robert (King) Carter of "Corotoman", Lancaster County. He was the father of President William Henry Harrison. He attended the College of William and Mary, 1745. He was a member of the House of Burgesses, 1749-65, 1766-75; Committee of Correspondence, 1773; Virginia Conventions of 177576 and 1788; Continental Congress, 1774-78; Signer of the Declaration of Independence (second cousin of Richard Henry and Francis Light- foot Lee, also Signers); member of the House of Delegates, representing Charles City County, 1776-81, Surry County, 1785-86, and Charles City County, 1787-91; and Governor of Virginia, 1781-84. He married, about 1750, Elizabeth Bassett, daughter of Colonel William and Elizabeth (Churchill) Bassett of "Eltham", New Kent County.
While he was Speaker of the House, the Clerks were EDMUND RANDOLPH and JOHN JAMES BECKLEY. - Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices:
Governor of Virginia (1781 - 1784)
Speaker of the House of Delegates - 1778, 1779, 1780 - 1781 (May 1780 session, Oct. 1780 - Jan. 1781 session), 1781 - 1782 (May - June 1781 session, October - Dec. 1, 1781) Virginia Constitutional Convention: 1776, 1788; Delegate to the Second Continental Congress, (1775–1781)
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1748-1749 | Charles City | ||||
| 1752-1755 | Charles City | Propositions and Grievances Trade |
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| 1756-1758 | Charles City | Privileges and Elections | |||
| 1758-1761 | Charles City | Trade (Chair) Privileges and Elections Propositions and Grievances |
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| 1761-1765 | Charles City | Trade (Chair) Privileges & Elections Propositions and Grievances |
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| 1766-1768 | Charles City | Trade (Chair) Propositions and Grievances |
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| 1769 | Charles City | Trade (Chair) Privileges & Elections Propositions and Grievances Religion |
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| 1769-1771 | Charles City | Trade (Chair) Privileges and Elections Propositions and Grievances Religion |
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| 1772-1774 | Charles City | Trade (Chair) Privileges and Elections Propositions and Grievances Religion |
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| 1775-1776 | Charles City | Privileges & Elections (Dates Unknown) Religion (Dates Unknown) |
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| 1776 | Charles City | Propositions and Grievances (Chair) Privileges & Elections Religion |
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| 1777-1778 | Charles City | Propositions and Grievances (Chair) Privileges and Elections Religion Trade |
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| 1778 | Charles City | Speaker of the House | |||
| 1779 | Charles City | Speaker of the House | |||
| 1780-1781 | Charles City | Speaker of the House | |||
| 1781-1782 | Speaker of the House | ||||
| 1787-1788 | Charles City | Privileges & Elections (Chair) Commerce Propositions and Grievances Religion |
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| 1788 | Charles City | Anti-Federalist | Speaker of the House | Privileges and Elections (Chair) Commerce Propositions and Grievances |
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| 1789 | Charles City | Anti-Federalist | Privileges & Elections (Chair) Claims Courts of Justice Propositions and Grievances Religion |
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| 1790 | Charles City | Anti-Federalist | Privileges & Elections (Chair) Courts of Justice Propositions and Grievances Religion |
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| 1791 | Charles City |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.