Samuel Emile Harvey
Encyclopedia
Major Sir Samuel Emile Harvey DL
(7 December 1885 – 9 November 1959) was a British Conservative Party
politician. He sat in the House of Commons for all but one of the years from 1922 to 1935.
, a Cornish businessman who had struck it rich in the nitrate business in Chile, and Robert's wife Alida Marie Godefroy, a Franco-Peruvian lady whom Robert had married while working in Iquique
during the time of the War of the Pacific
and the transfer of that area from Peruvian to Chilean control.
He was educated at Eton
until 1902, and in 1905 he joined the 1st King's Dragoon Guards
. He was with the regiment in India when World War I
began. The Dragoon Guards arrived in to France in November 1914, and soon mounted a cavalry charge, one of the few in that war. The unit was gassed
and Harvey's health never recovered.
as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Totnes
, after the retirement of the long-serving MP Francis Mildmay
. He was narrowly defeated at the 1923 general election
by the Liberal Party
candidate Henry Harvey Vivian
, but ousted Vivian at the 1924 general election
and held the seat until he retired from the Commons at the 1935 general election
.
It was announced in the 1935 New Years Honours list that Harvey was to be knight
ed, "for political and public services". The title was conferred at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace
on 21 February 1935.
After leaving the Commons he lived in Sidmouth
in Devon, becoming a Justice of the Peace
(JP) and in 1938 a Deputy Lieutenant
of Devon. 1941 Harvey was the High Sheriff of Devon
.
Harvey died intestate on 9 November 1959, aged 73. A memorial service for him was held in Totnes Parish Church on 16 November 1959.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(7 December 1885 – 9 November 1959) was a British Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He sat in the House of Commons for all but one of the years from 1922 to 1935.
Early life
Harvey was born in Cornwall to Sir Robert HarveyRobert Harvey (businessman)
Sir Robert Harvey 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...
, a Cornish businessman who had struck it rich in the nitrate business in Chile, and Robert's wife Alida Marie Godefroy, a Franco-Peruvian lady whom Robert had married while working in Iquique
Iquique
Iquique is a port city and commune in northern Chile, capital of both the Iquique Province and Tarapacá Region. It lies on the Pacific coast, west of the Atacama Desert and the Pampa del Tamarugal. It had a population of 216,419 as of the 2002 census...
during the time of the War of the Pacific
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
and the transfer of that area from Peruvian to Chilean control.
He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
until 1902, and in 1905 he joined the 1st King's Dragoon Guards
1st King's Dragoon Guards
The 1st King's Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1685 as The Queen's Regiment of Horse, named in honour of Queen Mary, consort of King James II. It was renamed The King's Own Regiment of Horse in 1714 in honour of George I...
. He was with the regiment in India when World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
began. The Dragoon Guards arrived in to France in November 1914, and soon mounted a cavalry charge, one of the few in that war. The unit was gassed
Poison gas in World War I
The use of chemical weapons in World War I ranged from disabling chemicals, such as tear gas and the severe mustard gas, to lethal agents like phosgene and chlorine. This chemical warfare was a major component of the first global war and first total war of the 20th century. The killing capacity of...
and Harvey's health never recovered.
Career
Harvey was elected at 1922 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Totnes
Totnes (UK Parliament constituency)
Totnes is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament , using the first-past-the-post voting system....
, after the retirement of the long-serving MP Francis Mildmay
Francis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete
Francis Bingham Mildmay, 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete DL, TD was initially a Liberal and later a Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 until 1922 when he was raised to the peerage....
. He was narrowly defeated at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
by the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate Henry Harvey Vivian
Henry Harvey Vivian
Henry Harvey Vivian was an English trade unionist, Lib–Lab, laterLiberal Party politician and campaigner for industrial democracy and co-partnership, especially noted for his work in co-partnership housing.-Biography:...
, but ousted Vivian at the 1924 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
and held the seat until he retired from the Commons at the 1935 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
.
It was announced in the 1935 New Years Honours list that Harvey was to be knight
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
ed, "for political and public services". The title was conferred at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
on 21 February 1935.
After leaving the Commons he lived in Sidmouth
Sidmouth
Sidmouth is a small town on the English Channel coast in Devon, South West England. The town lies at the mouth of the River Sid in the East Devon district, south east of Exeter. It has a population of about 15,000, of whom 40% are over 65....
in Devon, becoming a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(JP) and in 1938 a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Devon. 1941 Harvey was the High Sheriff of Devon
High Sheriff of Devon
The High Sheriff of Devon is the Queen's representative for the County of Devon, a territory known as his bailiwick. Selected from three nominated people, he holds his office over the duration of a year. He has judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court...
.
Harvey died intestate on 9 November 1959, aged 73. A memorial service for him was held in Totnes Parish Church on 16 November 1959.
Sources
- bio on Robert Harvey
- list of members of the House of Commons for constituencies beginning with the letter T
- list of High Sheriffs of Devon since 1832