Rep. Carter Bassett Harrison (1756 – April 18, 1808) was a

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

from the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

. He was a son of

Benjamin Harrison V Benjamin Harrison V (April 5, 1726April 24, 1791) was an American planter, merchant, and politician who served as a legislator in colonial Virginia, following his namesakes’ tradition of public service. He was a signer of the Continental As ...

, a member of the Continental Congress and signer of the American Declaration of Independence, an older brother of

William Henry Harrison William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773April 4, 1841) was an American military officer and politician who served as the ninth president of the United States. Harrison died just 31 days after his inauguration in 1841, and had the shortest pres ...

, the ninth

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

, and a granduncle of

Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison (August 20, 1833March 13, 1901) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 23rd president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia–a grandson of the ninth pr ...

, the 23rd President. Harrison was born at the

Berkeley Plantation Berkeley Plantation, one of the first plantations 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, named after the Berkele ...

Charles City County, Virginia Charles City County is a county located in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. The county is situated southeast of Richmond and west of Jamestown. It is bounded on the south by the James River and on the east by the Chickahominy River. The a ...

and was attending the College of William & Mary 1776, and maybe other years. He is listed as leaving the college to join the American Army during the Revolution. He was a member of the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-number ...

, 1784–1786 and 1805–1808. He was elected to the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

for the Third Congress and to the two succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1793 to March 3, 1799. Harrison died in

Prince George County, Virginia Prince George County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,010. Its county seat is Prince George. Prince George County is located within the Greater Richmond Region of the U.S. st ...

. On January 15, 1787, in Surry County, Carter married Mary Howell Allen of "Claremont" on the James, and had three children: William Allen, Benjamin Carter and Anna Carter (Harrison) Adams. Rep. Harrison's second wife was Jane Byrd, who died ca. 1813. There were no children by this union. Carter's burial is unknown, however, it is likely he's buried at his old plantation, "Maycox," in Prince George County.

Letter from Carter Bassett Harrison to James Madison

Maycox April 4, 1801 Dear Sir, This will be presented by Mr. Alexander Kerr, a friend of mine, who is disposed to fill some federal office that may be vacant in the town of Alexandria. I have been, for some time, acquainted with Mr. Kerr. I have ever found him a gentleman of capacity, integrity & the man of business. These requisites added to his republican character may fit him for any appointment that the president may think proper to bestow on him. Present me most respectfully to Mrs. Madison & assure yourself of my confidence in your office & esteem I am your obedient servant.

Public Speaking at the College of William & Mary

Spoke at the public annual exercises in Williamsburg on July 4, 1796. Bachelor of Arts degree given at this time. This was in the Virginia Gazette and General Advertiser, Richmond, VA. Wed. July 13, 1796.

Carter B. Harrison's years in office

Virginia House of Delegates: Representing Surry County from May 3, 1784 - June 30, 1784 Virginia House of Delegates: Representing Surry County from October 18, 1784 - January 7, 1785 Virginia House of Delegates: Representing Surry County from October 17, 1785 - January 21, 1786 United States House of Representatives: Carter was elected to the U. S. Congress from March 4, 1793 - March 3, 1799. These would be the third, fourth & fifth Congress. Virginia House of Delegates: Representing Prince George County from December 2, 1805 - February 6, 1806 Virginia House of Delegates: Representing Prince George County from December 1, 1806 - January 22, 1807 Virginia House of Delegates: Representing Prince George County from December 7, 1807 - February 10, 1808 Altogether, Carter spent at least eleven years in elected office. He was called a "distinguished member of the House of Delegates." - The General Assembly of Virginia July 30, 1619 – January 11, 1978: a Bicentennial Register of Members, by Cynthia Miller Leonard

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Carter Bassett 1756 births 1808 deaths Members of the Virginia House of Delegates Carter Bassett American people of English descent American planters People from Charles City County, Virginia College of William & Mary alumni Democratic-Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia