Lewis Harvie (1782 – April 14, 1807) was a nineteenth-century Virginia lawyer and politician who served as Private Secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and member of the Virginia Council of State.

Early life and education

Harvie was born in Virginia in 1782, the eldest son of John Harvie, delegate to the Second Continental Congress and signer of the Articles of Confederation.[1][2] He attended the College of William & Mary in 1798 and received private instruction in law from John Mason.[3][4]

Career

In 1803, President Jefferson wrote a letter to Harvie offering him a position as a secretary and aide-de-camp. The letter outlined that his responsibilities would include managing visitors, running errands, delivering messages to Congress, and representing the President in meetings.[5]

On June 6, 1803, at the age of 21, Harvie became the private secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, succeeding Meriwether Lewis.[3][6][7] He served in the role until March 1804.[3] He was a frequent guest of Jefferson at dinner.[8]

After serving as private secretary, Harvie established a private law practice in Richmond, Virginia, where he practiced property and estate law, including assisting Jefferson in the sale of the Richmond estate of Filippo Mazzei.[9]

In 1805, Harvie was elected to represent Richmond in the Virginia House of Delegates at the age of 23. He earned a reputation as a compelling orator. He was re-elected in 1806, but resigned the seat the same year after he was elected to the Virginia Governor's Council.[4] In January 1807, Harvie also became a member of the board of trustees of the Hallerian academy of Virginia and a trustee of the Academy for Female Education.[10]

Harvie continued to remain associated with Jefferson until his death, and a February 1807 correspondence between them (two months before his death) is in the collection of the Library of Congress.[9][11]

Death

Harvie died of a "lingering illness" on April 14, 1807, aged 25.[1][4][12]

References

  1. ^ a b Baker, Meredith Henne (2012-03-14). The Richmond Theater Fire: Early America's First Great Disaster. LSU Press. ISBN 978-0-8071-4374-2.
  2. ^ Marriages and Deaths from Richmond, Virginia Newspapers, 1780-1820. Southern Historical Press. 2021-08-17. ISBN 978-0-89308-619-0.
  3. ^ a b c "Founders Online: Memorandum Books, 1803". founders.archives.gov. pp. 368–370. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  4. ^ a b c "Founders Online: To Thomas Jefferson from Lewis Harvie, 19 January 1803". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  5. ^ "Founders Online: From Thomas Jefferson to Lewis Harvie, 28 February 1803". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  6. ^ "Personal Secretaries". Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  7. ^ Warshaw, Shirley Anne (2013-03-27). Guide to the White House Staff. CQ Press. ISBN 978-1-4522-3432-8.
  8. ^ Malone, Dumas (1970). Jefferson and His Time. Vol. 4. Little, Brown and Company.
  9. ^ a b "To Thomas Jefferson from Lewis Harvie, 24 February 1807". rotunda.upress.virginia.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
  10. ^ The Statutes at Large of Virginia: From October Session 1792, to December Session 1806 [i.e. 1807], Inclusive, in Three Volumes (new Series). S. Shepherd. 1836.
  11. ^ Lewis Harvie to Thomas Jefferson, February 24, 1807. 1807-02-24.
  12. ^ "Death Notice - Lewis Harvie". Richmond Enquirer. April 21, 1807.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Harvie
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