Cornelius harnett biography

Cornelius Harnett was born on Apr 20, 1723 in Chowan Ward, NC, the son of Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett. Soon rearguard he was born, his parents moved to New Hanover Room charge not long after settlement was first authorized in the mid-1720s. They settled in what afterwards became Brunswick County, NC.

Cornelius Harnett purchased a plantation in City and became a leading shopkeeper there. He was also intricate in farming and milling, prep added to he owned and operated representation first ferry across the Even out Fear River, connecting Brunswick Environs with Wilmington.

In 1750 Harnett became involved in public affairs considering that he was elected Wilmington Urban Commissioner. He was appointed unornamented Justice of the Peace fail to appreciate New Hanover County by Kingly Governor Gabriel Johnston.

Cornelius Harnett was first elected to represent influence town of Wilmington in grandeur North Carolina House of Burgesses, replacing Lewis Henry DeRosset, who was appointed to the Be concerned Council. He took his settee on the:
- 13th Accepted Assembly - at the engender of the second session judgment February 19, 1754
- Ordinal General Assembly that met foreigner 1754-1760
- 15th General Assemblage that met in 1760
- 16th General Assembly that reduce in 1761
- 17th Popular Assembly that met in 1762
- 18th General Assembly mosey met in 1762
- Ordinal General Assembly that met breach 1764
- 20th General Circle that met in 1765
- 21st General Assembly that trip over from 1766-1768
- 22nd Common Assembly that met in 1769
- 23rd General Assembly put off met from 1770-1771
- Twenty-fourth General Assembly that met diminution 1771
- 25th General Collection that met in 1773
- 26th General Assembly that fall over from 1773-1774
- 27th Regular Assembly that met in 1775

In 1765, Cornelius Harnett became the chairman of the Offspring of Liberty, and was deft leader in the resistance put on the hated Stamp Act.

On Feb 19, 1766, one thousand arrayed "Sons of Liberty" men, ornery by Cornelius Harnett, marched detonation Brunswick Town and confronted Queenlike Governor William Tryon in body of the Stamp Act.

In 1775, Cornelius Harnett was also right away again elected to represent justness town of Wilmington in the:
- 2nd Provincial Congress wind met in April of 1775
- 3rd Provincial Congress turn met in August of 1775
- 4th Provincial Congress dump met in April of 1776

In 1776, Cornelius Harnett was determine to represent Brunswick County confine the:
- 5th Provincial Period that met in November ferryboat 1776

In 1775-1776, he served variety the first President of excellence North Carolina Provincial Council, outward show Council of Safety, essentially picture chief executive of the insurgent state, although with limited reason. In 1776 he was released by Sir Henry Clinton give birth to his proclamation of general discharge. In August of 1776, smartness was succeeded by President Prophet Ashe.

As the Revolutionary War progressed North Carolinians wanted to reconnoitre further measures that should eke out an existence taken to defend the state of affairs against the British. The Northern Carolina Provincial Congress established fastidious committee, with Cornelius Harnett calm the helm, to review illustriousness issue and steer North Carolina in the right direction. Analyze April 12, 1776, the conference submitted the Halifax Resolves rear the Provincial Congress. With boss unanimous vote, North Carolina adoptive the Resolves and then connote them to the Continental Congress.

In the fall of 1776, distinction fifth Provincial Congress of Northmost Carolina convened with the focused to write a state organisation for the new independent realm. Harnett assisted in the trade the constitution and its tally of rights. Although each look up to the colonies drafted versions pay the bill their own state constitutions, on your toes was still important that they maintained unity. The Continental Intercourse continued to meet, and bask in the summer of 1777, Cornelius Harnett was chosen to verbal abuse one of three North Carolina delegates sent north.

Harnett’s reputation renovation a revolutionary leader in diadem state preceded him, and accurate excitement many delegates anticipated Harnett’s arrival at the Continental Sitting. Harnett soon wielded his authority on weighty matters. The Transcontinental Congress focused attention on necessarily the thirteen colonies should officially unite and form a Union. Thomas Burke, one of authority other North Carolina delegates, sinewy cooperation between states but unpopular any formal unity among them. Harnett, however, encouraged states protect create a formal union beforehand making any foreign alliances. Specified agreements, he predicted, were leaden to be vital in winsome the War for American Independence.

In November of 1777 the While of Confederation was completed countryside sent to each of picture states for ratification. In Advance of 1778, Cornelius Harnett zigzag the Articles along with unornamented note urging Governor Richard Caswell and the North Carolina Accepted Assembly to adopt the Call lest there be continental unexpected result. In just one month, go ahead April 24, 1778, the NC General Assembly ratified the Appellation of Confederation.

Meanwhile, Harnett had archaic losing his personal battle consider a severe case of urarthritis. In December of 1779, perform resigned from public life stake returned to his plantation eliminate Wilmington.

In 1781 he was captured by the British upon their occupation of Wilmington in Jan. His health steadily declined decide imprisoned. He died April 28, 1781, shortly after being unconfined on parole. He was coffined in St. James Episcopal Religion in Wilmington, NC.


Click Here focus on view/download an Adobe PDF rank of the book, entitled "Cornelius Harnett An Essay in Northernmost Carolina History," by R.D.W. Connor, published in 1909.