For an account of the origins and earlier history of the Harveys, including a family tree, see the entry for Sir Eliab’s great grandfather, Dr William Harvey.
Admiral Sir Eliab Harvey GCB (1758 – 1830) was a significant naval figure for over twenty years. His reputation comes mainly from his experiences at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Prior to the battle, Harvey’s ship HMS Temeraire was attached to the Channel Fleet, blockading ports in eastern France. When the battle was joined on 21 October, Harvey’s was the second ship in Nelson’s division and was faster and more agile than Nelson’s HMS Victory. As the division closed on the Franco-Spanish fleet, Temeraire began to pull ahead of Victory and Harvey (it is claimed) was reprimanded by Nelson: “I will thank you Captain Harvey, to keep your proper station, which is astern of the Victory“.
Whether or not this story is true, Harvey’s actions in forcing his way between two French ships of the line certainly brought about their surrender. Characteristically, Harvey later created his family motto ‘Redoutable et Fougueux‘ from the names of these ships.
Harvey – an eccentric and hot-tempered character distinguished as much for his gambling and duelling as for his military record – was not universally popular with his fellow officers. Once the Trafalgar fleet had returned to port, controversy erupted concerning his role in the battle and the prominence which Admiral Collingwood had given it in dispatches. Nevertheless, Harvey was promoted to rear-admiral and given the honour of being one of the pallbearers at Nelson’s funeral. His new motto and his penchant for ‘bragging’ further alienated him from his fellow officers.
(National Gallery, London)
Harvey was married and had numerous children; he was survived by six daughters but his three sons all predeceased him. His brothers produced no issue, making Eliab the last of the male line. On his death, the Hempstead lands passed to two of his daughters.
As for Temeraire, she saw further action after Trafalgar but returned to Britain in 1813 and was converted to a prison ship in the River Tamar until 1819. Eventually the Admiralty ordered her to be sold in 1838, and she was towed up the Thames to be broken up.
One of Nelson’s Captains by George Caunt
Eliab’s entry in the Dictionary of National Biography
Reminiscences on Eliab’s Parliamentary career
Family letters and reminiscences