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Benjamin Harrison V

Member From: 1748 - 1791

Member image
  • 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
1756-1758 Charles City Privileges and Elections
1758-1761 Charles City Trade (Chair)
Privileges and Elections
Propositions and Grievances
1761-1765 Charles City Trade (Chair)
Privileges & Elections
Propositions and Grievances
1766-1768 Charles City Trade (Chair)
Propositions and Grievances
1769 Charles City Trade (Chair)
Privileges & Elections
Propositions and Grievances
Religion
1769-1771 Charles City Trade (Chair)
Privileges and Elections
Propositions and Grievances
Religion
1772-1774 Charles City Trade (Chair)
Privileges and Elections
Propositions and Grievances
Religion
1775-1776 Charles City Privileges & Elections (Dates Unknown)
Religion (Dates Unknown)
1776 Charles City Propositions and Grievances (Chair)
Privileges & Elections
Religion
1777-1778 Charles City Propositions and Grievances (Chair)
Privileges and Elections
Religion
Trade
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
1788 Charles City Anti-Federalist Speaker of the House Privileges and Elections (Chair)
Commerce
Propositions and Grievances
1789 Charles City Anti-Federalist Privileges & Elections (Chair)
Claims
Courts of Justice
Propositions and Grievances
Religion
1790 Charles City Anti-Federalist Privileges & Elections (Chair)
Courts of Justice
Propositions and Grievances
Religion
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.

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