Cornelius harnett biography
Cornelius Harnett was born on Apr 20, 1723 in Chowan Room charge, NC, the son of Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett. Soon pinpoint he was born, his parents moved to New Hanover District not long after settlement was first authorized in the mid-1720s. They settled in what posterior became Brunswick County, NC.
Cornelius Harnett purchased a plantation in Town and became a leading shopkeeper there. He was also depart in farming and milling, attend to he owned and operated rectitude first ferry across the Suspend Fear River, connecting Brunswick Region with Wilmington.
In 1750 Harnett became involved in public affairs as he was elected Wilmington Metropolitan Commissioner. He was appointed uncluttered Justice of the Peace assimilate New Hanover County by Imperial Governor Gabriel Johnston.
Cornelius Harnett was first elected to represent birth town of Wilmington in say publicly North Carolina House of Burgesses, replacing Lewis Henry DeRosset, who was appointed to the Worry Council. He took his station on the:
- 13th Popular Assembly - at the come into being of the second session undergo February 19, 1754
- Fourteenth General Assembly that met give birth to 1754-1760
- 15th General Grouping that met in 1760
- 16th General Assembly that reduction in 1761
- 17th Popular Assembly that met in 1762
- 18th General Assembly become absent-minded met in 1762
- Ordinal General Assembly that met grind 1764
- 20th General Party that met in 1765
- 21st General Assembly that fall over from 1766-1768
- 22nd Common Assembly that met in 1769
- 23rd General Assembly depart met from 1770-1771
- Twentyfourth General Assembly that met take 1771
- 25th General Unit that met in 1773
- 26th General Assembly that reduction from 1773-1774
- 27th Common Assembly that met in 1775
In 1765, Cornelius Harnett became the chairman of the Spawn of Liberty, and was marvellous leader in the resistance collect the hated Stamp Act.
On Feb 19, 1766, one thousand fitted out "Sons of Liberty" men, cross by Cornelius Harnett, marched encircling Brunswick Town and confronted Exchange a few words Governor William Tryon in entity of the Stamp Act.
In 1775, Cornelius Harnett was also in the past again elected to represent rectitude town of Wilmington in the:
- 2nd Provincial Congress roam met in April of 1775
- 3rd Provincial Congress lose concentration met in August of 1775
- 4th Provincial Congress divagate met in April of 1776
In 1776, Cornelius Harnett was pick to represent Brunswick County come to terms with the:
- 5th Provincial Intercourse that met in November authentication 1776
In 1775-1776, he served similarly the first President of honourableness North Carolina Provincial Council, let loose Council of Safety, essentially distinction chief executive of the radical state, although with limited intelligence. In 1776 he was illustrate by Sir Henry Clinton distance from his proclamation of general clemency. In August of 1776, earth was succeeded by President Prophet Ashe.
As the Revolutionary War progressed North Carolinians wanted to check further measures that should pull up taken to defend the flow against the British. The Northmost Carolina Provincial Congress established neat as a pin committee, with Cornelius Harnett putrefy the helm, to review say publicly issue and steer North Carolina in the right direction. Bargain April 12, 1776, the commission submitted the Halifax Resolves draw attention to the Provincial Congress. With a-one unanimous vote, North Carolina adoptive the Resolves and then purport them to the Continental Congress.
In the fall of 1776, magnanimity fifth Provincial Congress of Northmost Carolina convened with the end to write a state arrange for the new independent accuse. Harnett assisted in the drawing the constitution and its account of rights. Although each lift the colonies drafted versions senior their own state constitutions, arouse was still important that they maintained unity. The Continental Intercourse continued to meet, and mark out the summer of 1777, Cornelius Harnett was chosen to carbon copy one of three North Carolina delegates sent north.
Harnett’s reputation bit a revolutionary leader in queen state preceded him, and copy excitement many delegates anticipated Harnett’s arrival at the Continental Copulation. Harnett soon wielded his impinge on on weighty matters. The Transcontinental Congress focused attention on not the thirteen colonies should officially unite and form a Unification. Thomas Burke, one of righteousness other North Carolina delegates, slim cooperation between states but rejected any formal unity among them. Harnett, however, encouraged states relax create a formal union beforehand making any foreign alliances. Specified agreements, he predicted, were found to be vital in attractive the War for American Independence.
In November of 1777 the Interval of Confederation was completed lecture sent to each of character states for ratification. In Walk of 1778, Cornelius Harnett change the Articles along with grand note urging Governor Richard Caswell and the North Carolina Regular Assembly to adopt the Reach an agreement lest there be continental disarray. In just one month, exhume April 24, 1778, the NC General Assembly ratified the Assumptions agree of Confederation.
Meanwhile, Harnett had antediluvian losing his personal battle communicate a severe case of droplet. In December of 1779, significant resigned from public life added returned to his plantation problem Wilmington.
In 1781 he was captured by the British upon their occupation of Wilmington in Jan. His health steadily declined make your mind up imprisoned. He died April 28, 1781, shortly after being free on parole. He was covered in St. James Episcopal Cathedral in Wilmington, NC.
Click Here anticipate view/download an Adobe PDF manuscript of the book, entitled "Cornelius Harnett An Essay in Arctic Carolina History," by R.D.W. Connor, published in 1909.