Cornelius Harnett
A fiery merchant-patriot from North Carolina whose passionate advocacy for independence made him a revolutionary kingpin in the Cape Fear region.
1723–1781 (age 58)·American Founding Father and politician·Birthday: April 20
Biography
Cornelius Harnett was the combustible heart of the Revolution in North Carolina. A wealthy Wilmington merchant and plantation owner, he leveraged his economic clout and oratory skills to rally the Cape Fear region against British rule. As chairman of North Carolina's powerful Council of Safety, he was effectively the head of the revolutionary government before independence was declared, organizing militia and suppressing Loyalist sentiment with decisive energy. He served in the Continental Congress and signed the Articles of Confederation. His later capture and harsh imprisonment by British troops in 1781 broke his health, leading to his death shortly after. Harnett was less a philosopher of liberty than its relentless, on-the-ground enforcer in a critical southern colony.
#1 When Cornelius Was Born
The biggest hits of 1723
Cornelius's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1723Born
1728Started school
1736Became a teenager
1739Could drive
1741Could vote
1744Turned 21
1753Turned 30
1763Turned 40
1773Turned 50
1781Died at 58
Key Achievements
- Served as the chairman of the North Carolina Council of Safety, the state's provisional revolutionary government.
- Signed the Articles of Confederation as a delegate from North Carolina.
- Was a leading figure in organizing and financing Patriot resistance in the Cape Fear region.
- Has Harnett County in North Carolina named in his honor.
Did You Know?
He was captured by British troops under Major James Craig and paroled, but his treatment during imprisonment contributed to his death.
Despite his revolutionary fervor, he was a slaveholder, a contradiction common among many Founding Fathers.
His home in Wilmington, the Cornelius Harnett House, was a center of Patriot activity and was raided by the British.
“The cause of Boston is the cause of all.”
