John Harvey (NC politician)
Encyclopedia
John Harvey was a legislative leader in the colonial Province of North Carolina
and subsequently a leader in the creation of the revolutionary movement
in the province.
From 1766 through 1769 and from 1773 through 1775, Harvey, a resident of Perquimans County, was the Speaker of the Colonial Assembly
(also known as the House of Commons).
While still serving as Speaker, Harvey served as moderator, or president, of the first and second North Carolina Provincial Congress
es (1774 and 1775). The first congress, for which Harvey had distributed handbills urging people to elect delegates, was supposedly "the first popular assembly anywhere in America, called by the people and held in the presence of the king's officers, in direct disobedience to British authority." At the first congress, he represented Onslow County
, while at the second, he was a delegate from Perquimans County
, where he actually lived. He died sometime between April and August of 1775.
During World War II, the Liberty Ship
SS John Harvey was built, in his honor, at a shipyard in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Province of North Carolina
The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina in British America, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietor. The province later became the U.S. states of North Carolina and Tennessee....
and subsequently a leader in the creation of the revolutionary movement
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
in the province.
From 1766 through 1769 and from 1773 through 1775, Harvey, a resident of Perquimans County, was the Speaker of the Colonial Assembly
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
(also known as the House of Commons).
While still serving as Speaker, Harvey served as moderator, or president, of the first and second North Carolina Provincial Congress
North Carolina Provincial Congress
The North Carolina Provincial Congresses were extra-legal unicameral legislative bodies formed in 1774 through 1776 by the people of the Province of North Carolina, independent of the British colonial government.-First Provincial Congress:...
es (1774 and 1775). The first congress, for which Harvey had distributed handbills urging people to elect delegates, was supposedly "the first popular assembly anywhere in America, called by the people and held in the presence of the king's officers, in direct disobedience to British authority." At the first congress, he represented Onslow County
Onslow County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 150,355 people, 48,122 households, and 36,572 families residing in the county. The population density was 196 people per square mile . There were 55,726 housing units at an average density of 73 per square mile...
, while at the second, he was a delegate from Perquimans County
Perquimans County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 13,453 people, 4,645 households, and 3,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were 6,043 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, where he actually lived. He died sometime between April and August of 1775.
During World War II, the Liberty Ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
SS John Harvey was built, in his honor, at a shipyard in Wilmington, North Carolina.
External links
- North Carolina Highway Historical Marker for John Harvey in Hertford, NC
- State Library of North Carolina. Information page for Tryon's Palace Historic Site (Web page)
- A Manual of North Carolina Issued by the North Carolina Historical Commission for the Use of Members of the General Assembly Session 1913: Electronic Edition.