24 Facts About Eliab Harvey

Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey was a Royal Navy officer and politician who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and was as distinguished for his gambling and dueling as for his military record.

Eliab Harvey used Temeraire to force the surrender of two French ships of the line and later created his family motto from the names of his opponents in the engagement; "Redoutable et Fougueux".

However, Eliab Harvey was not a peaceable man and his life both in and out of the Navy was frequently punctuated by disputes with fellow officers and politicians.

Eliab Harvey was notable in his time for his extravagant lifestyle.

Eliab Harvey was born in Chigwell, Essex to William and Emma Harvey.

Eliab Harvey's father William Harvey was a Member of Parliament for Essex, but died when Harvey was only five years old.

Until 1768, Eliab Harvey was raised at the family estate of Rolls Park in Chigwell, which had passed to his elder brother William on the death of their father.

Eliab Harvey then attended Westminster School for two years before moving to Harrow School in 1770.

At the age of thirteen in 1771, Eliab Harvey was entered onto the books of the naval schooner HMS Mary, although he did not actually serve aboard the ship.

Briefly returning to Britain at the outbreak of the American War of Independence, Eliab Harvey returned to the eastern seaboard of North America late in 1776 aboard HMS Mermaid, before transferring to the flagship of the North America Station HMS Eagle.

Eliab Harvey rejoined Eagle after the wreck and returned to Britain in her.

Eliab Harvey took over the parliamentary seat for Maldon in Essex in 1780 on the death of Richard Savage Nassau, and then won it again in the general election a few months later, holding the seat for the next four years.

In 1781 Eliab Harvey briefly commanded HMS Dolphin, but took leave four months later.

Eliab Harvey remained in semi-retirement until 1790, dividing his time between London and Rolls Park.

In 1790, Eliab Harvey was recalled up to the Navy during the Spanish armament and commanded the frigate HMS Hussar for six months, until the Navy returned to its peacetime complement.

Three years later, Eliab Harvey was recalled to the Navy with the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars.

Eliab Harvey would remain in service for the next 16 years, only briefly taking leave in 1802 during the Peace of Amiens.

In 1793, Eliab Harvey became captain of the frigate HMS Santa Margarita in the West Indies.

In 1797 Eliab Harvey returned to Britain due to ill-health, and was given command of the Essex sea fencibles during the next year.

In 1800 Eliab Harvey returned to sea in command of HMS Triumph, which he retained until the Peace of Amiens.

Eliab Harvey expressed his disgust that command had been given to the more junior Lord Cochrane in no uncertain terms to Gambier, and was dismissed from the admiral's council as a result.

Eliab Harvey was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1815 when the order was reformed, becoming a Knight Grand Cross in 1825.

Eliab Harvey's retirement included a further period in politics, returning to his seat as MP for Essex between 1820 and 1830.

Eliab Harvey's coffin is still in the crypt, and can be viewed on request.