Benjamin Harrison III
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Harrison III was an early member of the Harrison Family of Virginia
, serving as the colony's Attorney General, Treasurer, and Speaker of the House of Burgesses
.
, began to construct the family's Berkeley Plantation
in 1726.
In 1697, at just 24, he became the Attorney General
of the Virginia Colony, serving until 1702, before moving onto the House of Burgesses between 1703-1706, where he was the Speaker in 1705. He became Treasurer of the colony in 1705, serving until his death in 1710. Harrison began to compile the history of the colony shortly before he died, leaving it unfinished.
His children included:
Harrison family
The Harrison family is a prominent political family in U.S. history. Most famously, this family produced numerous Governors of Virginia , as well as two U.S. Presidents: William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison.The family has a longer recorded heritage in politics, however...
, serving as the colony's Attorney General, Treasurer, and Speaker of the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
.
Biography
Harrison was born in 1673, the son of Benjamin Harrison and Hannah Churchill. He purchased a portion from the land patent of Berkeley Hundred from Giles Bland, where he would raise his family after marrying Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis Burwell and Abigail Smith. This location was home to the first Thanksgiving in the Virginia Colony, and where his son, Benjamin Harrison IVBenjamin Harrison IV
Benjamin Harrison IV was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, the son of Benjamin Harrison III, and the father of Benjamin Harrison V, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the fifth Governor of Virginia...
, began to construct the family's Berkeley Plantation
Berkeley Plantation
Berkeley Plantation, one of the first great estates in America, comprises about on the banks of the James River on State Route 5 in Charles City County, Virginia. Berkeley Plantation was originally called Berkeley Hundred and named after one of its founders of the 1618 land grant, Richard Berkeley...
in 1726.
In 1697, at just 24, he became the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of the Virginia Colony, serving until 1702, before moving onto the House of Burgesses between 1703-1706, where he was the Speaker in 1705. He became Treasurer of the colony in 1705, serving until his death in 1710. Harrison began to compile the history of the colony shortly before he died, leaving it unfinished.
His children included:
- Benjamin Harrison IV, who married Anne Carter, daughter of Robert CarterRobert Carter IRobert "King" Carter , of Lancaster County, was a colonist in Virginia and became one of the wealthiest men in the colonies....
and Betty Landon - Elizabeth Harrison
- Nathaniel Harrison, who married Mary Cary, daughter of John Cary and Jane Flood