Benjamin Harrison VI

Benjamin Harrison VI (September 9, 1755 – August 11, 1799) was an American merchant, planter, politician, and participant in the American Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Harrison family of Virginia, a prominent family among the First Families of Virginia.

Born at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, Harrison VI was the son of Benjamin Harrison V (1726–1791), a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a notable member of the Continental Congress. His mother was Elizabeth Bassett (1730–1792), a descendant of Captain William Bassett II, who served as an officer in the English Civil War.

As a young adult, Harrison VI received his mercantile education at the Philadelphia-based firm Willing and Morris. During his time there, he developed lasting friendships with Robert Morris and Thomas Willing. Following his education, Harrison traveled in Europe to establish mercantile connections and to build his financial prospects.

The outbreak of the American Revolution prompted Harrison VI to return to Virginia, where he participated actively in supporting the Patriot cause. From 1774 to 1775, he served as a member of the Charles City County Committee and was also a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. During the Revolutionary War, he served as Deputy Paymaster General of the Continental Army, helping finance and manage payments for the troops in the Southern theater.

After the war, Harrison settled in Richmond, Virginia, becoming a successful merchant and accumulating significant wealth. He maintained a close friendship with Robert Morris, whom he assisted financially during Morris’s financial difficulties.

In 1790, Harrison VI took over ownership of Berkeley Plantation from his aging father. He undertook extensive renovations to the estate, including the addition of detailed woodwork in the "Great Rooms."

Harrison VI was married twice. His first marriage was in 1776 to Susannah Randolph (1752–1781), a daughter of Richard Randolph II, who was involved in slave trading and descended from Pocahontas. Following his first wife’s death, he married Anna Mercer (1760–1787), the daughter of colonial lawyer John Mercer and sister to several notable figures, including military officer George Mercer and Maryland Governor John Francis Mercer. Harrison VI had at least one son, Benjamin Harrison VII (1787–1842), with Anna Mercer. Some sources suggest he may have had another son, William Henry Harrison, named after his brother.

Benjamin Harrison VI died in Charles City, Virginia, in 1799, at the age of 44. His son, Benjamin Harrison VII, survived him and later became a prominent figure himself.

A notable aspect of Harrison VI’s legacy involves his physical resemblance to his father. During the creation of John Trumbull’s famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Harrison VI’s likeness was used as the model for Benjamin Harrison V, as no existing portrait was available for the elder Harrison.