Samuel Hardy
Samuel Hardy | |
---|---|
Delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia | |
In office 1783 – October 17, 1785 Serving with John Scarsbrook Wills | |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing Isle of Wight County | |
In office May 1, 1780 – May , 1782 Serving with John Scarsbrook Wills | |
Preceded by | Josiah Parker |
Succeeded by | Josiah Parker |
In office October 3, 1778 – May 3, 1779 Serving with John Scarsbrook Wills | |
Preceded by | Josiah Parker |
Succeeded by | Josiah Parker |
Personal details | |
Born | May 1, 1753 College of William and Mary |
Occupation | planter, businessperson, politician |
Samuel Hardy (June 10, 1758 – October 17, 1785) was an American lawyer, planter and politician, who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Isle of Wight County, as well as briefly on Virginia's Executive Council and as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.[1][2]
Early and family life
Born in
Career
Following admission to the Virginia bar on October 1, 1778, Hardy began a law practice.[citation needed] Two days later, voters in Isle of Wight county first chose him to represent them to complete the term of Major Josiah Parker, who was leading Virginia troops with the Continental Army and had been disqualified by the Virginia House of Delegates in the term's first session, but who subsequently won re-election to serve alongside John Scarsbrook Wills, as did Hardy for three consecutive one-year terms (1780-1782).[4] In June 1781 Hardy began his brief service on Virginia's Executive Council, and from May 29 to October 11, 1782, served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.[5]
Elected to the Continental Congress from Virginia, Hardy served from 1783 until 1785. On May 6, 1784, he voted against the resolution in the Congress restricting the salary of a foreign minister of the United States to $8,000, and on May 7 opposed the motion that the salary of a
Death and legacy
Hardy died in New York City, New York while Congress was in session (then meeting in New York City), and is buried in St. Paul's Church Cemetery. His death and funeral were reported in many newspapers at that time. One newspaper was The Freeman's Journal of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 26, 1785, on pages 2 and 3. The entire Congress and many dignitaries attended his funeral at St. Paul's Church. Archivist at Trinity Church have not been able to locate Hardy's grave marker or records of his funeral yet in their files but agree the newspaper story implies the funeral did occur and he is buried there but records of that time may be incomplete. They have records that Rev. Beach and Rev. Provost, who gave the sermons according to the article, were there at that time but cannot locate a copy of the specific sermons.
Hardy was a friend of Alexander Hamilton, who may have written a poetical tribute to his memory in the article, although the authorship is in dispute.
The
References
- Appleton's Cyclopediavol. III, p. 80
- ^ a b "Members of the Continental Congress from Virginia". Encyclopediavirginia.org. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ ancestry.com entry
- ^ Cynthia Miller Leonard, Virginia's General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978) pp. 138, 138, 142
- ^ Congressional bio
- ISBN 9781570032141.
- ^ Leonard pp. 193-196
External links
- Hardy's biographic note at U.S. Congress website
- Samuel Hardy's Funeral in The Freeman's Journal October 28, 1785