Benjamin Harrison V

All you want to know about Benjamin Harrison V

5th Governor of Virginia
Benjamin Harrison V

In office 1781 – 1784
Preceded by	Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Succeeded by	Patrick Henry

Born	April 5, 1726 Charles City County, Virginia
Died	April 24, 1791 (aged 65) Charles City County, Virginia
Political party	Federalist
Spouse	Anne Harrison
Profession	Lawyer,Politician
Religion	Baptist
Signature

Benjamin Harrison V (April 5, 1726 – April 24, 1791) was an American planter and revolutionary leader from Charles City County, Virginia. He was educated at the College of William and Mary and was, perhaps, the first figure in the Harrison family to gain national attention. Harrison was a representative for Surry County, Virginia (1756-1758) and Charles City County (1766-1776) to the House of Burgesses. He was a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1777, signed the Declaration of Independence, and was Governor of Virginia from 1781 to 1784. He again ran for the state legislature but was defeated by John Tyler, Sr., father of future president, John Tyler. He was elected from a neighboring district, however, and served until his death.

He was son of Benjamin Harrison IV and Anne Carter, and grandson of Robert Carter I; his cousin was the plantation owner Robert Carter. Benjamin Harrison V, was married to his second cousin Elizabeth Bassett. Their son William Henry Harrison and great-grandson Benjamin Harrison would both become President of the United States. His grandson was Congressman John Scott Harrison. His great-great-grandson was Congressman William H. Harrison (Wyoming Congressman) {1896-1990}. Besides William, their youngest child, they had six other children; Elizabeth, Anna, Benjamin VI, Lucy, Carter, and Sarah. His brother-in-law was Speaker of the House of Burgesses, Peyton Randolph, who was first cousin once removed of Thomas Jefferson.

Harrison lived all his life at Berkeley Plantation, the Harrison family home in Virginia, and his children were born there.

Harrison County, West Virginia was formed in 1784 and named in Governor Harrison's honor.He died of pneumonia and lung cancer on 24 April 1791 aged 65. Reportably no contemporary portrait of Benjamin Harrison "The Signer" survives; the figure labeled as "Benjamin Harrison" in John Trumbull's The Declaration of Independence is actually based on his son Benjamin Harrison IV-who is said to have resembled his father.

External links

Preceded by Thomas Nelson, Jr.	Governor of Virginia 1781–1784	Succeeded by Patrick Henry

v • d • e Signatories of the Declaration of Independence

J. Adams • S. Adams • Bartlett • Braxton • Carroll • Chase • Clark • Clymer • Ellery • Floyd • Franklin • Gerry • Gwinnett • Hall • Hancock • Harrison • Hart • Hewes • Heyward • Hooper • Hopkins • Hopkinson • Huntington • Jefferson • F. Lee • R. Lee • Lewis • Livingston • Lynch • McKean • Middleton • L. Morris • R. Morris • Morton • Nelson • Paca • Paine • Penn • Read • Rodney • Ross • Rush • Rutledge • Sherman • Smith • Stockton • Stone • Taylor • Thornton • Walton • Whipple • Williams • Wilson • Witherspoon • Wolcott • Wythe

v • d • e Governors of Virginia

Henry · Jefferson · Fleming · Nelson · Harrison · Henry · E. Randolph · B. Randolph · H. Lee · Brooke · Wood · Monroe · Page · Cabell · Tyler Sr. · G. Smith · Monroe · G. Smith · P. Randolph · Barbour · Nicholas · Preston · T. Randolph · Pleasants · Tyler Jr. · Giles · J. Floyd · Tazewell · Robertson · Campbell · Gilmer · Patton · Rutherfoord · Gregory · McDowell · W. "EB" Smith · J.B. Floyd · Johnson · Wise · Letcher · W. "EB" Smith · Pierpont · Wells · Walker · Kemper · Holliday · Cameron · F. Lee · McKinney · O'Ferrall · J.H. Tyler · Montague · Swanson · Mann · Stuart · Davis · Trinkle · Byrd · Pollard · Peery · Price · Darden · Tuck · Battle · Stanley · Almond · A. Harrison · Godwin · Holton · Godwin · Dalton · Robb · Baliles · Wilder · Allen · Gilmore · Warner · Kaine