Draft:Harvey family

The Harvey family of Norfolk later Baronets of Crown Point and Barons of Tasburgh, are a noble family who achieved prominence in business, society and politics from the 17th to 20th century, their dynasty is best known for making a large fortune in textile manufacturing and banking as well as their military achievements and municipal power in Norfolk.

Harvey Family

"The Harvey Family of Norwich" by Joseph Glover c.1820

Wool merchants (c.1690) and founders of Harvey & Hudsons Bank (1782-1870),

Portaits of the Harvey family and their relations are recorded in 'Portraits in Norfolk Houses' by Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, Vol 2. Several are displayed in Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery.

Family Origins

John Harvey I (1666-1742)

The progenitor 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 Clements" 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 had 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'.

John Harvey Esq. by Heins, c.1727.

At the companies height it was speculated he had some 800 looms manufacturing shawls.

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.

Harvey 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.

Robert Harvey II from the circle of Heins. Founder of Harveys Bank

Robert Harvey I "The 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. Harvey was known for his eccentric dress and nicknamed "Snuffy Bob" - for his habit of standing in front of the Harvey house at 18-20 Colegate Street taking snuff from his waistcoat pocket.

Harvey married Lydia Black and had four children, only the third of whom survived to adulthood and succeded the family 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 was most notable as pioneering the family's banking interests. In 1782 he founded Harveys Bank (known also as Harvey and Hudsons and Norwich Crown Bank).

At its height the bank had over 25 branches and some 3000 depositiors.

In 1792 Harveys manufactured a custom 12ft square embroidered counterpane which they presented to King George III and Queen Charlotte.

Lieut-Col. John Harvey by Opie, 1792

Robert married Judith the daughter of Capt. Onley and had 5 sons and 3 daughters.

Lieut-Col John Harvey (1755-1842)

The second son of Robert Harvey II and heir of his father following the death of his elder brother Colonel Robert Harvey.

Lieut-Colonel Harvey's eldest brother Colonel Robert Harvey was known for making his way into an audience with Napoleon Bonaparte by presenting himself as 'Baron Harvey' . Colonel Harvey married but produced no heir and subsequently left his £350,000 fortune (£28m in 2023) to his brother's eldest son Sir Robert Harvey.

Lieut-Col Harvey was himself also a textile merchant as well as managing the family's banking interests, he was responsible for introducing one of Norwich's best known exports 'Norwich Shawl'. He was a philanthropist and supplied coal and provisions to the poor when employment decreased. He was also known for reviving horse racing on Mousehold Heath and started the “Thorpe Water frolic” which is depicted in a painting by Joseph Stannard.

In 1779 he bought Thorpe Lodge, was Mayor in 1792 & High Sheriff at the time of his death in 1842.

He was married to Frances Kerrison the daughter of banker, Sir Roger Kerrison of Brooke and had 15 children 13 surviving to adulthood, most of whom are depicted in "The Harvey Family of Norwich" by Joseph Clover painted in 1820.

Harvey & Hudsons Bank, c.2013, now Hardwick House.

Harveys late 19th Century to Present

Oliver Harvey, 1st Baron Harvey of Tasburgh

Harveys of Tasburgh, Baronets of Crown Point

Lieut-Colonel Harvey was succeeded in his estates by his eldest son Major-General Sir Robert Harvey who's son Sir Robert John Harvey was created Baronet of Crown Point, and married Lady Henrietta Lambart daughter of Viscount Kilcoursie.

Following the collapse of the families bank in 1870 due to the latter speculating on the stock market disguising losses as ficticious debtors to the bank, a significant part of the families fortune at the time was lost, with Sir Robert commiting suicide in the July of 1870.

His grandson Lord Harvey of Tasburgh was British Ambassador to France. and married Maud Williams-Wynn a great-grandaughter of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn and Charles Pierrepont, 1st Earl of Manvers.

Lieut-Col John Robert Harvey DSO, Mayor of Norwich

Harveys of Holmwood

Lieut-Colonel Harvey's second son Kerrison Harvey was a banker and married Eliza Beecrof Lacon, daughter of Sir Edmund Knowles Lacon, 2nd Baronet of Ormesby House. Their son Col. John Edmund Julius Harvey married Octavia Lettice and had 2 sons and 5 daughters, one of whom married Thomas Ruding Davey a tobacco millionaire who's company later merged and became Imperial Tobacco.

Kerrison Harvey served as Chief Magistrate of Norfolk in 1866 and 1868 and twice as Mayor of Norwich.

Col. John Edmund's eldest son Lieut Col. John Robert Harvey was educated at Rugby, and Trinity College Cambridge and served in the East Norfolk Militia, 16th Lancers and 5th Lancers and joined the 43rd Suffolk Hussars, as Captain in November 1899.  He commanded the Suffolk Hussars and the 25th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa and was presented a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in 1902 by King Edward VII for his service in South Africa.

Lieut-Col Harvey returned to the frontlines aged 54 during WW1 and served with the 4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment in Gallipoli in 1915, returning home due to illness. He was found dead at his home 'Holmwood' which had been gifted to him by Queen Victoria located on Harvey Lane in Norfolk (named after the family) following an accident climbing over a fence.

Following this several family portraits were moved to Rainthorpe Hall, purchased by the second baronet in 1878.

Descendants of the family remain involved in business and municipal affairs.