Robert Harvey (businessman)
Sir Robert Harvey (1847–1930) was a prominent British saltpetre producer in Bolivia, Peru and Chile during the late 19th Century.
Harvey was born in Cornwall to Samuel Harvey, a tailor. The younger Harvey entered the foundery trade. In 1872 he went to Bolivia to work in the Tocopilla Copper Mines. In 1875 he moved to Iquique which was then in Peru and became involved in the production of saltpetre.
During the War of the Pacific Harvey was captured at the Battle of San Francisco. Due to his expertise in the nitrate industry he was recruited to work for the Chilean government. About this time he married Alida Maria Godefroy who was from a respected Franco-Peruvian family.
In 1881 when the Chilean government privatized the nitrate industry Harvey became managing partner for the firm of J.T.North and Harvey, which he had established with John Thomas North, who was often called the Nitrate King.
By 1883 Harvey had made enough money he decided it was time to return to Britain. He bought an estate in Cornwall and many properties in the Totnes Area of Devon. In 1897 he was High Sheriff of Devon and in 1898 High Sheriff of Cornwall. He made an unsuccessful run to become MP from Truro. In 1901 Harvey was knighted.
He was the father of Samuel Emile Harvey.