Royal Naval Biography/Harvey, John (a)
JOHN HARVEY (a), Esq.
[Commander.]
A son of Henry Wise Harvey of Harnden, Sandwich, co. Kent, Esq., whose father, Captain John Harvey, one of “the bravest of the brave,” was mortally wounded while commanding the Brunswick 74, at the memorable battle of June 1st, 1794[1].
This officer was born at Harnden, on the 31st Dec. 1793; and entered the royal navy in Sept. 1804, as midshipman on board the Agamemnon 64, commanded by his uncle. Captain (now Vice-Admiral Sir John) Harvey, under whom he served in that ship and the Canada 74, principally employed on the Cadiz and West India stations, until the latter third-rate was paid off at Chatham, in Jan. 1808. During his first cruise he witnessed the capture of four Spanish merchantmen, laden with sugar, cochineal, indigo, coffee, &c. and having on board specie to a very considerable amount. In the following year, he was present at the capture of two Spanish line-of-battle ships, by the fleet under Sir Robert Calder[2].
On leaving the Canada, Mr. John Harvey joined the Orion 74, Captain Sir Archibald C. Dickson, attached to the Baltic fleet; in which ship he continued until June 1809, when he sailed from Spithead, in the Donegal 74, Captain Edward P. Brenton, to rejoin his uncle, then commanding the Leviathan 74, off Cadiz. In Oct. following, he witnessed the destruction, by their own crews, of two French line-of-battle ships, between Cette and Frontignan[3]. In Mar. 1811, he followed Captain Harvey into the Royal Sovereign, first rate, on the Mediterranean station, from whence he returned home towards the end of the same year. We afterwards find him successively serving on board the Sceptre, Marlborough, and San Domingo, third rates, from which latter ship he was promoted into the Success 32, armed en flute, Nov. 13th, 1813, His next appointment was, in Jan. 1814, to the Epervier 18, Commander Richard Walter Wales, the capture of which vessel, on the 29th April following, by the United States’ sloop Peacock, has been narrated in Supp. Part IV. p. 127, et seq. We subsequently find him serving in the Astraea frigate. Captain Edward Kittoe; and as flag-lieutenant to his uncle. Rear-Admiral John Harvey, commander-in-chief on the Leeward Islands station. He obtained his present rank on the 2d April 1819.
This officer’s only brother, Henry Wise Harvey, is a lieutenant in the navy. His eldest sister, now deceased, was married to Commander George Hilton.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. note [1] at p. 613, et seq. From a genealogical account now extant, the Harveys are traced in a direct line from Mr. Richard Harvey, of Filmanstone, who died in 1472.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part I. p. 405.
- ↑ See id. p. 282, et seq.