Early Career
Thomas Harvey was born in 1775, shortly before his Captain Henry Harvey left for service on the North America and West Indian stations during the American Revolutionary War. Raised in Kent with his mother Elizabeth (neé Boys) and elder brothers, Harvey was sent to join the Navy aged only 12, serving for the next seven years aboard HMS Ramillies. In 1793 Ramillies became his father's ship and under Captain Harvey, young Thomas participated in the battle of the Glorious First of June when his ship rescued the embattled HMS Brunswick commanded by his uncle John Harvey. John Harvey died later of his wounds, but Thomas benefited from the general promotion which followed the action and became a lieutenant.
Harvey moved from Ramillies to HMS Prince of Wales when his father raised his flag in her and both were aboard during the Battle of Groix where Prince of Wales was extensively engaged and three French ships of the line were taken. Remaining with his father during 1795 and the first half of 1796, Harvey benefited from family contacts to receive promotion to commander in July 1796 and take command of the brig HMS Lacedemonian and then HMS Pelican, his first independent commands aged just 21. In Pelican Harvey was present when his father captured Trinidad in 1797 and as a result was awarded with promotion to post-captain at the extremely young age of 22.
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