Born: 16 April 1817-19 July 1870.
Son of: Maj Gen Sir Robert John Harvey (1785-1860) and Charlotte Mary Lady Harvey (1793- 1869).
Brother of:
1. Julia Sutton nee Harvey (1816-????) who married Capt Samuel Ives Sutton (1807-1850)
2. A sister?
3. Maria Frances Harvey (1821-1845).
4. John Harvey (1822-1874).
5. Charles Onley Harvey (18??-1824).
6. Edward Kerrison Harvey (1826-1906) who married 1st: Emma Susanna Chevallier (1828-1886), 2nd: Sophia Elizabeth Beevor (1843-1924).
7. Archibald Harvey (18??-1827).
Robert married: Lady Henrietta Augusta Lambart (1817-1874), 11 August 1945, daughter of George Frederick Augustus Lambart, Viscount Kilcoursie, and Sarah Coppin.
Robert and Henrietta had issue:
1. Henrietta Julia Lacon nee Harvey (1847-1873) who married Edmund Broughton Knowles Lacon (1843-????).
2. Robert Lambart Sutton Harvey (1847-1864).
3. Sir Charles Harvey 2nd Bart (1849-1928) who married 1st Jane Anne (?-1891), daughter of Benjamin Green of Newcastle.  Charles married 2nd Mary Anne Edith Cooke daughter of G F Cooke of Holmwood, Norwich (see Norfolk Portraits, Vol 2, page 168).
4. Lambart Edward Harvey (1851-1871).
5. Ida Harvey (1852-1931).
6. Alicia Menella Harvey (1858-1892).

Sir Robert John Harvey 1st Bart: An Overview

The information I have about Robert comes from the following sources:

1. Information supplied to me by Carla Woodworth Lynas and based on the 'Original Genealogical Collections, by the late Lieut. Col. Robert John Harvey of Thorpe'.  This is mentioned in a publication called 'Walter Rye, Memoir Bibliography and Catalogue of of his Norfolk Manuscripts in the Norwich Public Libraries' by Geo. A. Stephen published in 1929? by the Public Libraries Committee, Norwich.  Original documents in the Norfolk Archives.
2. His portrait recorded in the book 'Portraits in Norfolk Houses' by Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, Vol 2, undated but published around 1928.  Rainthorpe Hall, The Property of Sir Charles Harvey Bart, 6th August 1907.  Page 168, 175.
3. A note about the crash of the family bank.  'Death and Disgrace in Victorian Norwich' by John Barney,  Bulletin of the Norfolk Archaeological and Historical Research Group, 2008.

Robert was a senior partner in the Harvey and Hudson Bank (Norwich Crown Bank).  This enterprize had originally been founded by his great grandfather in 1792 (Robert Harvey 1730-1816) and run by various members of the family over the following years.  At its height the bank had about 25 branches spread across Norfolk and Suffolk and there were probably more than 3000 depositors.  Robert was in full control in the 1860s and enjoyed a good life style while he rebuilt his house at Crown Point.  During this time he speculated on the stock exchange, rather unsuccessfully.  He then hid his lossess by noting them as debts from fictitious customers.  By 1870 the bank's losses had amounted to over £200,000 and Robert was no longer able to hide them, particularly after a fall in the market due to the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war.  Consequently he shot himself at his home Crown Point.

If anyone can add more information about Robert I would be very pleased to hear from you.

If you know any more please contact me This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(Home)