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Cornelius Harnett

Cornelius Harnett (April 20, 1723–April 28, 1781) was a American merchant, farmer, and statesman from Wilmington, North Carolina. He was a leading revolutionary in the Cape Fear region, and a delegate for North Carolina in the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779.

Cornelius was born to Cornelies and Elizabeth Harnett in Chowan County, North Carolina, and soon after his parents moved to Wilmington

April 1750 Appointed by Governor Johnston as justice of the peace for New Hanover County, North Carolina
1750 First elected town commissioner in August, and served at different times for eleven years
1754-1775 Member of the colonial assembly
1765 and 1766 Became chairman of the Sons of Liberty of North Carolina and was a leader in the resistance to the Stamp Act
1773 and 1774 Member of the committee of correspondence
1774 and 1775 Chairman of the Wilmington Committee of Safety
1775 and 1776 Member of the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Provincial Congresses ; serving as president in the Fifth
1775 and 1776 Delegate to the provincial council, then made president of the council thus becoming chief executive of the new government of North Carolina
1776 Excepted by Sir Henry Clinton from his proclamation of general amnesty
1777 Councilor of state
1777-1779 Member of the Continental Congress
1781 Captured by the British upon their occupation of Wilmington in January. His health steadily declined while imprisoned.
April 28 1781 Died shortly after being released on parole. He was buried in St. James' Churchyard Wilmington, North Carolina.

Biographical Data courtesy of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

03-10-2013 05:06:04
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