A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Harvey, John
HARVEY. (Commander, 1819. f-p., 15; h-p., 28.)
John Harvey, born 31 Dec. 1793, is eldest son of Henry Wise Harvey, Esq., of Harnden, co. Kent, whose father, the gallant Capt. John Harvey, R.N., was mortally wounded in command of the Brunswick 74, in the action of 1 June, 1794. He is brother of Lieut. H. W. Harvey, R.N.; nephew of the present Capt. Edw. Harvey, R.N.; and brother-in-law of Commander Geo. Hilton, R.N.
This officer entered the Navy, 6 Sept. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Agamemnon 64, commanded by his uncle Capt John Harvey. In Sept. 1805, after having served on the north coast of Spain, and participated in Sir Robt. Calder’s action, he accompanied his relative into the Canada 74, and sailed for the West Indies, where he remained, until transferred, about Jan. 1808, to the Orion 74, commanded in the Baltic by Sir Archibald Collingwood Dickson. From June, 1809, until Dec. 1811, he again served with Capt. Harvey in the Leviathan 74, and Royal Sovereign 100, both attached to the force in the Mediterranean; on which station he aided in the Leviathan in causing the self-destruction of the French ships-of-the-line Robuste and Lion, between Cette and Frontignan, 25 Oct. 1809. Until Sept. 1813, we next find Mr. Harvey employed on the North Sea and North American stations in the Sceptre and Marlborough 74’s, Capts. Thos. Harvey and Robt. Honyman, and St. Domingo 74, flag-ship of Sir John Borlase Warren. He was then appointed Acting-Lieutenant of the Success 32, armée en flûte, Capt. Thos. Barclay, to which vessel the Admiralty confirmed him by commission dated 13 Nov. 1813. Joining next the Epervier, of 18 guns and 117 men, Capt. Rich. Walter Wales, Mr. Harvey continued to serve on the American coast until 29 April, 1814, when that vessel, after a severe action of an hour, and a loss of 23 men killed and wounded, became a shattered prize to the United States sloop Peacock, of 22 guns and 185 picked seamen, two only of whom appear to have been hurt. On regaining his liberty he was appointed, 22 Aug. 1815, to the Astraea 36, Capt. Edw. Kittoe; and from 22 Aug. 1815, until advanced to his present rank, 2 April, 1819, he further served in the Antelope 50, as Flag-Lieutenant to his uncle Rear-Admiral John Harvey, Commander-in-Chief in the Leeward Islands. He has since been on half-pay. Agents – Messrs. Ommanney.