Eliab Harvey

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Eliab Harvey
England
Sir Eliab Harvey
Born 5 December 1758
Chigwell, Essex, England
Died 20 February 1830
Chigwell, Essex, England
Occupation Royal Navy Officer

Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey, GCB,KCB (5 December 1758 - 20 February 1830) was an eccentric and hot-tempered officer of the Royal Navy during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars who was as distinguished by his excellent fighting record as for his gambling and duelling. He also spent three spells as a Member of Parliament.

Born in Chigwell, Harvey was sent to sea at thirteen in 1771, and spent the 1770s off the Eastern Seaboard of what became the United States of America [1]. The war was not particulaly eventful for Harvey who did ot see any major fleet action or minor coastal operations, and in 1779 he took a leave of absence in order to stand for parliament in the seat of Maldon, Essex[2] , which he won and represented for four years, returning to the navy in 1782 just as peace was agreed. Promoted to commander [3] the same year and then making the jump to Post Captain [4]the next year, taking over the frigate HMS Santa Margarita and the ship of the line HMS Valiant in turn, visitng the West Indies twice interspersed with periods in the Channel Fleet.

Harvey took a second leave of absence in 1797 due to illness and commanded sea fencibles during the next year before being given the HMS Triumph until the Peace of Amiens. Throughout his time ashore, Harvey was an inveterate gambler and rake, frequently running up debts he could not pay and on one occasion only avoiding bankruptcy by the cancelling of a debt by his creditor. During the peace he again dabbled in politics, taking the seat for Maldon again [5] and he was offered the second rate HMS Temeraire for Channel service.

Temeraire in battle at Trafalgar from a painting by J. M. W. Turner
Enlarge
Temeraire in battle at Trafalgar from a painting by J. M. W. Turner

In the early autumn he was detailed to join Nelson's blockade off Cadiz, a posting he enjoyed as his newly cleaned and repaired ship was amongst the fastest and most powerful in the fleet. When the battle of Trafalgar was joined on the 21 October, Harvey was reprimanded by Nelson, beacause as the second ship in line behind the flagship HMS Victory, Harvey was deliberately racing to beat the Victory to the enemy. Nelson rebuked Harvey when he reached hailing distance, saying "I will thank you, Captain Harvey, to keep your proper station, which is astern of the Victory". Retiring behind his commander, Harvey nevertheless was quick to action, sweeping headlong into the Redoutable, firing one broadside into the Bucentaure and the other into Redoutable, which was reduced to a wreck. The three crushed vessels swept forward, collecting the hapless Fougueux and capturing her too. In later years Harvey would use this incident for his personal motto Redoutable et Fougueux (which translates suitably as Frightening and Impetuous [6]).

Controversy surrounded Harvey after the battle, because in the dispatch sent home by Admiral Collingwood, Harvey was praised above all other captains. It is true that Harvey fought hard and well, but his fellow officers took this as an affront, especially when Harvey received the lion's share of rewards, including initiation to the Order of the Bath, promotion to rear-admiral [7] and the honour of being one of Nelson's pall bearers. Following the action, Harvey was given the 80 gun HMS Tonnant, in which he served until 1809, when in a petulant rage he resigned his commission over the command of the proposed attack on Basque Roads. Admiral James Gambier had assigned command to a junior captain, Lord Thomas Cochrane, passing over Harvey and several other eligible senior officers. What Harvey and the other outraged captains did not realise, was that Cochrane had been deliberately chosen as a scapegoat for Gambier's sabotage of the operation, which he deemed too risky.

Enraged at the perceived snub, Harvey left the service [8] and vowed not to return, but a year later, with soaring debts, he was invited to rejoin the fleet[9] . He was however never permitted to serve at sea again but was promoted. [10] and created Knight Commander (KCB) [11]

Lived the remainder of his life in London, dabbling [12]in politics being confired a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath [13] and racking up debts [14] before his death in 1830 in Chigwell. He was buried in St Andrew's Church in Hempstead, where his grave can still be seen (although it is a restoration following the accidental collapse of the church in 1884 [15] ).

[edit] Further reading

  • The Trafalgar Captains, Colin White and the 1805 Club, Chatham Publishing, London, 2005, ISBN 186176247X

[edit] References

  1. ^ Promoted Lieutenant 25 February 1779
  2. ^ 1780-1781
  3. ^ 21 March 1782
  4. ^ 20 January 1783
  5. ^ 1802-1812
  6. ^ According to Altavista Babel Fish
  7. ^ Rear Admiral of the Blue 9 November 1805, of the Red 28 April 1808
  8. ^ Dismissed 23 May 1809
  9. ^ Restored 21 March 1810
  10. ^ Promotioned to:-
  11. ^ January 2, 1815
  12. ^ M.P. (Essex) 1820-1830
  13. ^ 17 January 1825
  14. ^ Is reported to have lost a fortune in one evening a playing hazard.
  15. ^ Memorial a hatchment and wall plaque: St Andrews Church, Hempstead

[edit] External links

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