Henry Harvey

Henry Harvey (1775-1850)

1775 September 3rd. Born the son of John Harvey and his wife Joanna Anne Pearce

1803 Took over the foundry of Harveys of Hayle on the death of his father

1816 Aided by Arthur Woolf, whose services were secured as superintendent in overall charge of the foundry from March 1816 onwards, Henry Harvey, an exceptionally astute man of business, realised Woolf's predominant position in mine engineering — not only in ability but in his valuable business connections — and his alliance with Woolf was to prove the making of Hayle Foundry as engine builders in the next decade or so.

Henry Harvey also played a large part in the rise of Hayle to its position as the leading Cornish mining port, importing coal and timber, and shipping ore to South Wales, in enormous quantities. During the 1820s and 1830s, bitter rivalry amounting to outright commercial war existed between Harvey & Co. and their great competitors the Cornish Copper Co, who shared with them the Hayle mine-merchanting trade.

In 1808 his sister Ann died and her husband John a year later leaving six children who Henry took in to his own house to care for.

1850 May 7th. Died at Hayle aged 76.

Notes

Henry Harvey of Hayle and his common law wife, Grace Tonkin? They had 10 children, all of whom were baptised at St Erth and were given Harvey as their middle name. Henry changed Grace and the children's surname to Tonking. Grace and the children lived in Mellanear House, Hayle. (Note: This story needs confirming)

See Also

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Sources of Information

• The Cornish Beam Engine by D. B. Barton. Published 1969. ISBN 1-8711060-04-4
• Harveys of Hayle by Edmund Vale. 1966. ISBN 978 0 904040 78 4