HARVEY, WILLIAM [SSNE 385]

Surname

HARVEY, HERVEY, HARVIE, HERUIG

First name

WILLIAM

Title/rank

QUARTERMASTER

Nationality

SCOT or ENGLISH

Social status

SOLDIER

Text source

William Harvey was a quartermaster in the Danish-Norwegian army in 1628. A man of this name, possibly the same individual but called 'Master William Harvey' was recorded in the Swedish Intelligencer as being drowned on 23 August 1632 while with the Swedes. He was the only son to Lord Harvey and by the time he appeared back in Germany he had completed a three year tour to Jerusalem, Constantinople and Italy among other places. If he left Danish service in 1628, his date of return as being the same man in Swedish service is plausable. The fact he was quartermaster in Denmark also suggests a university education which his title of 'master' implies. The author of the Swedish Intelligencer lamented "A Gentleman he was, who might one day have merited a place in our owne Cronicles; for few young Sparkes were there among the Nobility of any Nation; either finelier made up, more gently bred, or more completely improved. Nor is this more than a moderate Laudative of him; for so say they, that could judge him: very great therefore is the losse of such a Sonne, to his honourable Parents; but greater will be the want of such as he, to his native Countrey".

T. Riis, Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot (Odense, 1988), II, p.113; The Swedish Intelligencer: The Third Part (London, 1633), pp.36-39.

Service record

DENMARK-NORWAY, DANISH ARMY

Arrived 1628-01-01, as QUARTERMASTER

Departed 1628-10-04, as QUARTERMASTER

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, HAMILTON'S ARMY

Departed 1632-08-23

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILTARY