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Henry was born to John and Esther Grasset Laurens on March 6, 1724 in Charleston, South Carolina. His father was a saddler and his parents had come to Charles Town as part of the Huguenot immigration, drawn by the promise of religious liberty. His family prospered, and in 1744 Henry went to England where he learned the ways of commerce from a merchant who had formerly lived in Charleston.
Henry returned to Charleston in 1747. He entered the export and import business and became a prosperous merchant. On June 25, 1750 he married Eleanor Ball. The couple would have twelve children. While seven died in infancy or childhood, others achieved prominence. Their son John Laurens fought and died in the Revolution. Their daughter Mary married Charles Pinckney, while their son Henry married Eliza, the daughter of John RutledgeJohn Rutledge (September 1739- July 18, 1800) was governor of South Carolina, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and served on the U. Supreme Court ( Chief Justice from August to December 1795). He was the elder brother of Edward Rutledge, a signe.
In 1772, Henry like many successful American merchants began to buy farmland. He purchased 3,000 acres (12 km˛) at MepkinMepkin Abbey is a Trappist Monastery in Berkeley County, South Carolina. The abbey is located near Moncks Corner, at the junction of the two forks of the Cooper River northwest of Charleston. The area has been known as Mepkin for centuries, and was origin. Although he later bought another 20,000 acres (81 km˛), Mepkin became the family seat. By 1776 he had given up his mercantile ventures, although he always ran his plantations in a very business-like way.
Laurens served in the militia, as did most able bodied men in his time. He rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel in campaigns against the CherokeeAlternate meanings: Cherokee (disambiguation The Cherokee (Cherokee: , Tsa-La-Gi-Yi) are a people native to North America who first inhabited what is now the eastern and southeastern United States before most were forcefully moved to the Ozark Plateau. Indians in 1757-1761. 1757Events March 14 On-board the HMS Monarch Admiral John Byng is executed by firing squad for neglecting his duty. June 23 Indian Mutiny: Battle of Plassey 3000 British troops under Robert Clive defeat a 50,000 strong Indian army under Siraj-ud-Dawlah at Pla also marked the first year he was elected to the colonial assembly. He was elected again every year but one until the revolution replaced the assembly with a state Convention as an interim government. The year he missed was 1773Events January 12 The first American museum open to the public is opened in ( Charleston, South Carolina). January 17 Captain James Cook becomes the first European explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle April 27 or May 10 The British Parliament passes the when he visited England to arrange for his children's education. He was named to the colony's Council in 1764 and 1768, but declined both times. In 1772Events February 17 First partition of Poland, by Russia and Prussia, later including Austria May Watauga Association formed in East Tennessee as the first independent Anglo-American government. June 9 British vessel Gaspee is burned off of Rhode Island. he joined the American Philosophical SocietyThe American Philosophical Society founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin, continues to operate to this day. Through research grants, published journals, the upkeep of an extensive library, and regular meetings, the Society continues to advance careful stud of Philadelphia, and carried on some extensive correspondence with other members.
As the American Revolution neared, Laurens first inclination was to support reconciliation with the British Crown. But as conditions deteriorated he came to fully support the American position. When Carolina began the creation of a revolutionary government, he was elected to the Provincial Congress which first met on January 9, 1775. He was president of the Committee of Safety, and presiding officer of that congress from June until March of 1776. When South Carolina installed a full independent government, he served as the Vice President of South Carolina from March of 1776 to June 27, 1777.
Henry Laurens was first named a delegate to the Continental Congress on January 10, 1777. He served in the Congress from then until 1780. He was the President of the Continental Congress from November 1, 1777 to December 9, 1778.
In the fall of 1779 the Congress named Laurens their minister to Holland. In early 1780 he took up that post and successfully negotiated Dutch support for the war. But on his return voyage that fall the British Navy intercepted his ship. He charged with treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London. This became another issue between the British and Americans. In the field, most captives were regarded as Prisoners of War. While conditions were frequently appalling, prisoner exchanges and mail privileges were accepted practice. Finally, on December 31, 1781 he was released in exchange for General Lord Cornwallis and completed his voyage.
In 1783 Laurens was in Paris as one of the Peace Commissioners for the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Paris. While he didn't sign the primary treaty, he was instrumental in reaching the secondary accords that resolved issues involving Holland and Spain. He generally retired from public life in 1784. He was sought for a return to the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the state assembly, but he declined all of these jobs. He did serve in the state convention of 1788 where he voted to ratify the United States Constitution.