Draft:Harvey family
![]() | Draft article not currently submitted for review.
This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. To be accepted, a draft should:
It is strongly discouraged to write about yourself, your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it. Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Last edited by Starktoncollosal (talk | contribs) 4 months ago. (Update) |
The Harvey family of Norfolk are a noble family who achieved prominence in business, society and politics from the 17th to 21st century, their dynasty is known for making a large fortune in textile manufacturing and export and in later generations banking as well as their municipal and political power across Norfolk.
Family Origins
John Harvey I (1666-1742)
The founding member of the Norwich Harvey dynasty was John Harvey (1666-1742), a worsted merchant who was admitted as a Freeman of Norwich in 1695. In 1710 John was voted "Merchant of St Clemens" and in 1720 was elected as Sheriff, then Alderman in 1722, and Mayor in 1727. In the 1780s it was reported that Harvey and his partners J. P. Knight recognised the cloth 'bombazine' was similar to the quality of Kashmiri shawls from India and predicted an anticipating rise in the fashion of shawl wearing so decided to combine cloth of silk with worsted, a process he termed 'shawling'.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/John_Harvey_%281666-1742%29_by_Theodore_Heins.jpg/315px-John_Harvey_%281666-1742%29_by_Theodore_Heins.jpg)
At the companies height it was speculated he had some 800 looms manufacturing shawls, and in 1792 he and J. P. Knight manufactured a custom 12ft square embroidered counterpane which they presented to King George III and Queen Charlotte.
His portrait by Heins inscribes him as the second son of Robt. Harvey Esq of Beachamwell who died in 1695 who's family estate passed in direct descent from father to son through seven generations from J. Harvey Esq. born 1499 and buried 1569 at Beachamwell, who served as sheriff in 1470
He is memorialised among other members of the family in St Clements Church which reads-
"An Eminent Manufacturer, A Considerable Merchant,
And a Worthy Magistrate of this City,
By His Assiduous Application and Exact Economy,
He Acquired an Ample Fortune,
With Great Reputation and Honour"
Harvey married firstly Ann Statham and had 6 sons and 2 daughters.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Portrait_of_Robert_Harvey.jpg/306px-Portrait_of_Robert_Harvey.jpg)
Robert Harvey "Father of The City" (1697-1773)
The Eldest surviving son of John Harvey I and Ann Statham. Robert Harvey of Catton Hall continued the family's textile business and was Mayor in 1738. Robert Harvey was known for his eccentric dress and was known as "Snuffy Bob" - for his habit of standing in front of the Harveys house at 18-20 Colegate Street taking snuff from his waistcoat pocket.
Harvey married Lydia Black and had four children, only the third of which survived to adulthood and succeded in the family's businesses.
Robert Harvey II (1730-1816) founder of Harveys Bank
Only survivng son of Robert Harvey and Lydia Black, Robert Harvey of Catton and Tharston Hall reached the age of 86. Like many of the family, he held several public offices, including Magistrate, Sheriff in 1766 and Mayor twice in 1770 and 1800.
Robert Harvey II is most notable as pioneering the family's banking interests. In 1792 he founded Harveys Bank (known also as the Norwich Bank).
At its height the bank had over 25 branches and some 3000 depositiors.
Robert married Judith the daughter of Capt. Onley and had 5 sons and 3 daughters.
- Colonel. Robert Harvey (1753-1820) of the Norfolk East Militia, known as "Baron Harvey" following his sneaking into the presence of Napoleon Bonaparte by presenting himself as "Baron Harvey". Left an estate of £350,000 (£28m in 2023) to his nephew. Served as Mayor in 1787.
- Lieut. Col John Harvey (1755-1842)