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Benjamin Harrison Jr.
Member From: 1756 - 1786
- Birth Date: April 5, 1726 Birth Place:Berkeley, Charles City County, Virginia
- Death Date: April 24, 1791
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Elizabeth Bassett
- Children: William Henry Harrison
- Religion:
- Education:
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession:
- Additional Info: Jr. suffix not used for 1783 Assembly and later
1785-1786 Assembly- Benjamin Harrison was allowed to retain his seat as a delegate from Surry, where he had moved.
- Bio: Benjamin Harrison of Charles City County was the son of Benjamin (died 1745) and Anne (Carter) Harrison, daughter of Robert (King) Carter of "Corotoman", Lancaster County, Virginia. 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 1775 and 1788; Continental Congress, 1774-78; Signer of the Declaration of Independence (second cousin of Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot 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 (born December 13, 1730), daughter of Colonel William and Elizabeth (Churchill) Bassett of "Eltham", New Kent County, Va.
Portrait, copy by Anne Fletcher, presented by Henry H. Wilson in 1931, in the Capitol at Richmond, Va.
While he was Speaker of the House, the Clerks were (1) EDMUND RANDOLPH and (2) JOHN JAMES BECKLEY. - Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices:
Virginia Constitutional Convention: 1776, 1788
Governor of Virginia: 1781-1784
Speaker of the House - 1785 - 1786
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1756-1758 | Surry | Trade (Chair) Privileges and Elections Propositions and Grievances |
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| 1777-1778 | Prince George | Privileges and Elections | |||
| 1778 | Prince George | Privileges and Elections Propositions and Grievances Religion |
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| 1779 | Prince George | Privileges & Elections (Chair) Propositions and Grievances |
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| 1783 | Prince George | Claims Courts of Justice Privileges and Elections Propositions and Grievances |
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| 1785-1786 | Surry | Speaker of the House |
*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.