Revolutionary War Continental Congressman. Served as a Delegate from North Carolina to the Continental Congress in 1777. In July of 1781 he was taken prisoner by the British and subsequently died of disease.
He was an American merchant, farmer, and statesman from Wilmington, North Carolina. He was a leading American Revolutionary in the Cape Fear region and a delegate for North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779.
Cornelius Harnett, was born on April 10, 1723 in Chowan County, to Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett, who had immigrated from Dublin, Ireland. Soon after Harnett's birth his parents moved to what is now called Brunswick County. Cornelius Harnett spent his childhood and adolescent years near the Cape Fear River and developed interests in farming and milling.
As an adult, Cornelius Harnett purchased a plantation in Wilmington, became a leading merchant, and became involved in public affairs in 1750, when he was elected to the Wilmington town commission. His natural talent for politics served him well, and his reputation and influence spread rapidly throughout the colony. In 1754, Harnett was elected to serve as Wilmington's first delegate to North Carolina Provincial Assembly. There he served almost consecutively for twenty-one years.
In 1765, Cornelius Harnett became chairman of the North Carolina Sons of Liberty and led the fight to denounce the Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament. Harnett soon became known as the "Samuel Adams of North Carolina" for his leadership in the protests.
He was an American merchant, farmer, and statesman from Wilmington, North Carolina. He was a leading American Revolutionary in the Cape Fear region and a delegate for North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779.
Cornelius Harnett, was born on April 10, 1723 in Chowan County, to Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett, who had immigrated from Dublin, Ireland. Soon after Harnett's birth his parents moved to what is now called Brunswick County. Cornelius Harnett spent his childhood and adolescent years near the Cape Fear River and developed interests in farming and milling.
As an adult, Cornelius Harnett purchased a plantation in Wilmington, became a leading merchant, and became involved in public affairs in 1750, when he was elected to the Wilmington town commission. His natural talent for politics served him well, and his reputation and influence spread rapidly throughout the colony. In 1754, Harnett was elected to serve as Wilmington's first delegate to North Carolina Provincial Assembly. There he served almost consecutively for twenty-one years.
In 1765, Cornelius Harnett became chairman of the North Carolina Sons of Liberty and led the fight to denounce the Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament. Harnett soon became known as the "Samuel Adams of North Carolina" for his leadership in the protests.
Revolutionary War Continental Congressman. Served as a Delegate from North Carolina to the Continental Congress in 1777. In July of 1781 he was taken prisoner by the British and subsequently died of disease.
He was an American merchant, farmer, and statesman from Wilmington, North Carolina. He was a leading American Revolutionary in the Cape Fear region and a delegate for North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779.
Cornelius Harnett, was born on April 10, 1723 in Chowan County, to Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett, who had immigrated from Dublin, Ireland. Soon after Harnett's birth his parents moved to what is now called Brunswick County. Cornelius Harnett spent his childhood and adolescent years near the Cape Fear River and developed interests in farming and milling.
As an adult, Cornelius Harnett purchased a plantation in Wilmington, became a leading merchant, and became involved in public affairs in 1750, when he was elected to the Wilmington town commission. His natural talent for politics served him well, and his reputation and influence spread rapidly throughout the colony. In 1754, Harnett was elected to serve as Wilmington's first delegate to North Carolina Provincial Assembly. There he served almost consecutively for twenty-one years.
In 1765, Cornelius Harnett became chairman of the North Carolina Sons of Liberty and led the fight to denounce the Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament. Harnett soon became known as the "Samuel Adams of North Carolina" for his leadership in the protests.
He was an American merchant, farmer, and statesman from Wilmington, North Carolina. He was a leading American Revolutionary in the Cape Fear region and a delegate for North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779.
Cornelius Harnett, was born on April 10, 1723 in Chowan County, to Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett, who had immigrated from Dublin, Ireland. Soon after Harnett's birth his parents moved to what is now called Brunswick County. Cornelius Harnett spent his childhood and adolescent years near the Cape Fear River and developed interests in farming and milling.
As an adult, Cornelius Harnett purchased a plantation in Wilmington, became a leading merchant, and became involved in public affairs in 1750, when he was elected to the Wilmington town commission. His natural talent for politics served him well, and his reputation and influence spread rapidly throughout the colony. In 1754, Harnett was elected to serve as Wilmington's first delegate to North Carolina Provincial Assembly. There he served almost consecutively for twenty-one years.
In 1765, Cornelius Harnett became chairman of the North Carolina Sons of Liberty and led the fight to denounce the Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament. Harnett soon became known as the "Samuel Adams of North Carolina" for his leadership in the protests.
Bio by: Erik Lander
Inscription
CORNELIUS HARNETT
DIED
April 20, 17981
Aged 58 Years
Slave to no sect, he took no private road,
But looked through nature up
to nature's God.
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