American merchant, farmer, and statesman

 

 

 

Cornelius Harnett, the Sam Adams of North Carolina

April 19, 2012

Cornelius Harnett 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.
Harnett was born April 20, 1723 to Cornelius and Elizabeth Harnett in Chowan County, North Carolina. Soon after he was born, his parents moved to Wilmington. He became a leading merchant there, and was interested in farming, milling, and mercantile ventures. In 1750 he became involved in public affairs when he was elected Wilmington town commissioner. He was appointed a justice of the peace for New Hanover County by Governor Gabriel Johnston. Harnett was elected to represent Wilmington in the North Carolina General Assembly in 1754.

Historical Marker in front of new Harnett County Courthouse

In 1765, Harnett became the chairman of the Sons of Liberty, and was a leader in the resistance to the Stamp Act. In 1775-1776, he served as the first president of the North Carolina Provincial Council, or Council of Safety, essentially the chief executive of the revolutionary state, although with limited powers. In 1776 he was excepted by Sir Henry Clinton from his proclamation of general amnesty. He was a member of the Continental Congress for 1777–1779.
In January, 1781, the British captured Wilmington. The patriot leaders had to fly for their lives. There was none of them whom the British were so eager to capture as Harnett. Major Craige, the British commander, at once sent out a party of soldiers to take him. Harnett tried to escape, but after a few miles was so overcome with illness that he had to stop at a friend’s house in Onslow County.

The Price of Leadership by Don J. Long

There the British soldiers found him. They pulled him out of bed, and drove him on foot before them until he fell in the road. Then binding his hands and feet they threw him across a soldier’s horse ‘like a sack of meal,’ and so carried him into prison and kept him there until he was in a dying condition. His health steadily declined while imprisoned. He died April 28, 1781, shortly after being released on parole. He was buried in St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The Rotary Club of Lillington sought and obtained permission from the Board of Commissioners of Harnett County to display the three enhanced drawings by Don J. Long, together with captions and narratives, on the second floor of the Harnett County Courthouse.

As shown above the display area is on a side wall of the entrance way leading to four courtrooms and the Jury Assembly area on the second floor of the Courthouse.