Robert Hanson Harrison - Revolutionary Chief of Staff
Updated 8/24/21
Robert Hanson Harrison acted as General Washington’s personal secretary for the first half of the Revolutionary War.
Robert Hanson Harrison
The smash hit play Hamilton has a song titled ‘Right Hand Man,’ (it’s good, listen to it) which implies that Alexander Hamilton was George Washington’s #2 during the Revolutionary War.
While it is no secret that Hamilton was uniquely important to the Patriots, he was not Washington’s right-hand man.
That honor fell to Robert Hanson Harrison.
Harrison acted as Washington’s military secretary for most of the Revolution, overseeing the General’s orders and correspondence.
He was, in essence, George Washington’s Chief of Staff.
When Washington sent a message to Congress, Harrison wrote the letter.
When he rode into battle, Harrison was at his side.
Harrison was also in charge (along with Hamilton) of exchanging prisoners of war.
After the War
Before the Revolution, Harrison acted as Washington’s lawyer. It was here he earned respect for his knowledge of the law.
Unfortunately, family issues forced his resignation from the Continental Army in the Spring of 1781.
When this happened, Harrison was almost immediately chosen as Chief Justice of the Maryland Supreme Court.
The First Government
When voting commenced in the first U.S. Presidential election, each elector had two votes. Washington came in first (obviously) by receiving one vote from each person. The Vice-President was the person who received the second most votes.
John Adams won the Vice-Presidency by a clear margin. After him was John Jay.
Robert Hanson Harrison had the third most votes in the race to be the First Vice-President of the United States.
This was mostly due to trust from his home state of Maryland, but it is also notable that the man who was Washington's #2 during the war was also considered to be he #2 under the new government.
Harrison was then confirmed as an original member of the United States Supreme Court.
His poor health, however, led to him declining the position and he passed away a few months later at just 45-years-old.
Want to learn about another secretary to Washington?
Here you go:
Washington’s Secretary - Tobias Lear Records the President’s Last Words
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