Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harcourt, Robert
HARCOURT, ROBERT (1574?–1631), traveller, born about 1574 at Ellenhall, Staffordshire, was the eldest son of Sir Walter Harcourt of that place and Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, by Dorothy, daughter of William Robinson of Drayton-Bassett, Staffordshire (Collins, Peerage, ed. Brydges, iv. 440). He matriculated at Oxford as a gentleman-commoner of St. Alban Hall on 10 April 1590 (Oxf. Univ. Reg., Oxf. Hist. Soc., ii. ii. 176), and continued there about three years. On 23 March 1609, accompanied by his brother Michael and a company of adventurers, he sailed for Guiana. On 11 May he arrived in the river Oyapoco (formerly Wiapoco). The natives came on board and were much disappointed at the absence of Sir Walter Raleigh. Harcourt received them courteously and gave them good store of aquavitae. He took possession in the king's name of a tract of land lying between the rivers Amazon and Dollesquebe on 14 Aug., left his brother and most of his company to colonise it, and four days later embarked reluctantly for England. At this time he was involved in a dispute with his brother-in-law, Anthony Fitzherbert, about his claim to the manor of Norbury, Derbyshire (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1603-10, p. 514). He also appears to have been subjected to persecution on account of his religion. On 8 Nov. 1609 one Robert Campbell obtained a grant of the benefit of his (Harcourt's) recusancy (ib. 1603-10, p. 557). He ultimately obtained letters patent empowering him to plant and inhabit the land at Guiana, but was prevented by a series of misfortunes from visiting it again (dedications of first and second editions of Voyage). The king renewed the grant on 28 Aug. 1613 in favour of Harcourt and his heirs, Sir Thomas Challoner and John Rovenson (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1611-18, p. 198). To promote the success of the scheme, Harcourt wrote a delightful account of his adventures, entitled 'A Relation of a Voyage to Gviana. Describing the climat, scituation, fertilitie, prouisions, and commodities of that Country. . . . Together with the manners, customes, behauiors, and dispositions of the people,' 4to, London, 1613. A 'corporation of lords and gentlemen' was formed and entrusted the conduct of the enterprise to Roger North. North, notwithstanding the opposition of Gondomar, the Spanish ambassador, transported to Guiana a hundred English settlers. He then obtained on 30 Jan. 1626 a grant for incorporating his own and Harcourt's company with all customary privileges (ib. 1625-6, p. 240). In the following April Harcourt issued a 'Proposal for the formation of a Company of Adventurers to the river Amazon' (ib. 1625-6, p. 302), and an enlarged edition of his book, with the conditions laid down by him for settlers in Guiana. The 'Voyage' is reprinted in pt. iv. of Purchas's 'Pilgrimes,' 1625, and in vol. vi. of the 'Harleian Miscellany,' ed. Park. Latin and German versions appeared in T. de Bry's collection, and a Dutch version in the series edited by P. Vander Aa. Harcourt lost heavily over the speculation, and had to sell Ellenhall as well as his property at Wytham in Berkshire. It is related that when forced to part with more of his domains after the sale of Ellenhall, he let loose a pigeon, saying he would sell the land over which the bird flew. The pigeon circled round the Wytham estate (Harcourt Papers, ed. E. W. Harcourt, i. 103). Harcourt died on 20 May 1631, aged 57, and was buried at Stanton Harcourt. He married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of John Fitzherbert of Norbury, Derbyshire, by whom he had no issue; and secondly, Frances, daughter of Geoffrey Vere, fourth son of John, earl of Oxford, who brought him a family of seven children. Sir Simon Harcourt (1603?–1642) [q. v.] was his eldest son.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. (Bliss), ii. 143-4; Collins's Peerage (Brydges), iv. 440-3; Raleigh's Discovery of Guiana (Hakluyt Soc.); Harcourt Papers, ed. by E. W. Harcourt, vol. i.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.146
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 321 | i | 25 | Harcourt, Robert: for Dollesquebe read Dessequebe [i.e. the Essequibo] |
| ii | 27 | for fourth son read third son |