Daniel Harvey (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daniel Harvey
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|
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 1664 Coombe Surrey, England |
| Died | 6 September 1732 (aged 67–68) Mitcham London, England |
| Buried |
St Peter and St Paul, Mitcham
|
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
| Service/ |
Cavalry |
| Years of service | ca. 1688–1712 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Colonel 3rd Regiment of Horse 1699–1712 |
| Commands held | Governor of Guernsey 1714–1732 |
| Battles/wars | Nine Years' War War of the Spanish Succession |
| Awards | Member of Parliament Clitheroe 1707–1708 Dunwich 1709–1710 Weymouth and Melcombe Regis 1713–1714, 1715–1722 |
Daniel Harvey (born around 1664, died 1732) was an important British soldier and politician. He reached the rank of General in the army. He also served as the Governor of Guernsey for many years, from 1714 to 1732.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Daniel Harvey was born in 1664 in Coombe, a place near Kingston in England. He was the second of three brothers. His father, Sir Daniel Harvey, came from a family of rich merchants in London.
His mother was Elizabeth Montagu. Her father was Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, a very important person. In 1668, Daniel's father became an Ambassador to Constantinople, which is now Istanbul, Turkey. Sadly, his father died there in 1672.
Daniel Harvey went to Christ Church, Oxford for his education. He finished his studies in 1681. After that, he joined the army in 1688.
Military and Political Career
In Daniel Harvey's time, army regiments were often seen as the personal property of their leader, called a Colonel. These regiments would change names if their leader changed. Also, joining the army was a bit like an investment. People could buy or sell their positions.
This meant that people like Daniel Harvey could have both a military and a political job at the same time. It was a new idea to have a full-time professional soldier.
Joining the Army
Daniel Harvey first joined the army as a Captain in 1688. He was part of a cavalry regiment. This group was formed to support William III. The regiment was sent to Ireland to fight in the Williamite War from 1689 to 1691.
In 1694, Harvey became a Colonel of a Regiment of Horse. This unit served in Flanders, a region in Europe. They stayed there until 1697, when a peace treaty called the Treaty of Ryswick was signed.
In 1699, Daniel Harvey bought the position of Colonel in the 3rd Regiment of Horse. He kept this important role until 1712.
War and Promotions
During the War of the Spanish Succession, Daniel Harvey was promoted. He became a Major-General in May 1704. His unit was sent to Portugal to help Archduke Charles. Archduke Charles was trying to become the King of Spain.
However, it seems Harvey did not spend much time in Portugal. He returned to England before the fighting really started in 1705. In 1706, a leader named Lord Godolphin was upset. He saw Harvey and his friend Lord Mohun in London while their soldiers were still fighting abroad.
Despite this, Daniel Harvey continued to be promoted. He became a Lieutenant-General in 1707. Then, in 1709, he reached the highest rank of General.
Political Life
After his military promotions, Harvey started to focus more on politics. He usually supported the Whigs, one of the main political groups at the time.
In January 1707, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Clitheroe. This area was controlled by his uncle, the Duke of Montagu. His elder brother, Edward, was also an MP for Clitheroe.
A few months later, Daniel Harvey married his cousin, Anne Montagu. She had recently become a widow. This marriage made his connection to the powerful Montagu family even stronger.
In 1710, Harvey voted to remove a person named Dr Henry Sacheverell from his position. This decision caused big protests known as the Sacheverell Riots. After these riots, the other main political group, the Tories, won many elections.
Because of this, Daniel Harvey lost his seat as an MP. In 1712, he was told to go back to his army regiment or face a court-martial. He chose to resign from the army instead.
Later Career
When George I became king in 1714, the Whigs returned to power. This was good news for Daniel Harvey. He was appointed Governor of Guernsey in 1714. Guernsey is an island in the English Channel.
He also served as an MP again for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. He held this position from 1715 to 1722. However, he never got a job in the government itself.
Family
Daniel Harvey and his wife, Anne Montagu (1674 – 1742), had one daughter together:
- Ann Harvey, who sadly died young.
Anne also had a daughter from her first marriage to Alexander Popham:
- Elizabeth Popham (born 1693, died 1761).
Images for kids
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The Sacheverell riots of 1710 temporarily halted Harvey's political career
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Harvey's friend Lord Mohun, who was killed in a duel in 1712.
