Benjamin Harrison

Lover more than fighter, not extreme in his views;

            but sign the declaration?-- Harrison did not refuse.

        Benjamin Harrison's father Benjamin married Anne Carter, the daughter of the king's surveyor general, by whom he had six sons and four daughters.  He and two of his daughters were killed by lightening while Benjamin was a student at William and Mary.  Summoned to come home early from college, young Benjamin showed maturity and unusual good judgment in managing his father's estate.          

       Benjamin married Elizabeth Bassett, daughter of Colonel William Bassett and a niece to the sister of Mrs. George Washington.  They had many children, their youngest becoming our ninth President, William Henry Harrison ("a soul-winner and a man with deep concern for others."  "In the White House, Benjamin followed breakfast each day with Bible study and prayer").¹  

      Elected to the colonial House of Burgesses, Benjamin was offered a bribe (appointment to the executive council) by a thrunched Royal Governor when the House passed the Stamp Act Resolutions in defiance of the crown.  He refused the appointment.   

        As delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774, he, along with others, helped plan the future of the American Army with George Washington.  He was involved in deciding commercial restrictions against Britain while the debates for the declaration of independence were still going on.

         As chairman of the Committee of the Whole House he reported the resolution on June 10, 1776, as previously offered by Richard Henry Lee, to declare independence of the American Colonies.  He was among those who signed the Declaration on July 4.

        Known for his jovial sense of humor and embonpoint, we see the esteem with which he was held as testified by a contemporary in Congress, "that he was characterized for great firmness, good sense, and a peculiar sagacity in difficult and critical situations.  In seasons of uncommon trial and anxiety, he was always steady, cheerful, and undaunted."²

        Toward the end of 1777, Harrison resigned his seat in congress and was soon elected to the Virginia state legislature.  A few years later, he was elected to the office of chief magistrate of Virginia and was twice re-elected governor.  In 1785, still at the height of his popularity, he returned to private life.

          "After the war, Ben Harrison was taxed for a 300-acre farm in Westmoreland County of Pennsylvania. at which lived one horse, one cow, one sheep, four white persons, and no black persons.  He did not entirely give up the military life as he became colonel in the militia of Westmoreland County."   Pennsylvania Archives, Published By The State Of Pennsylvania

         In 1788, he was elected a member of the state convention for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.  His participation was limited due to his oncoming older age and attacks of gout.

        In 1791, Harrison was again elected a member of his state legislature; but following a party in celebration of his election, he was stricken with another attack of gout which caused his demise on the evening of the day after his election.

     From his grave marker:    

In this graveyard is buried Col. Benjamin Harrison  December 13, 1730 - April 24, 1791  Signer of the Declaration of Independence  Member of Virginia House of Burgesses  Continental Congress Federal Constitutional Convention  Thrice Governor of Virginia  Father and Great Grandfather of two presidents of the United States  Erected 1972 by Virginia Society Daughters of the American Colonies

     Benjamin Harrison has been identified as an Episcopalian.

 ¹http://chi.gospelcom.net/lives_events/more/harrison.shtml).    ² Rev. Charles A. Goodrich Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence. New York: William Reed & Co., 1856.

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 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.  

Psalm 144:15