Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harvey, Edmund George
HARVEY, EDMUND GEORGE (1828–1884), author and musical composer, was born on 20 Feb. 1828 at Penzance. His father, William Woodis Harvey (1798–1864), born at Penzance on 15 June 1798, was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge (B.A. 1828, M.A. 1835); was vicar of Truro from 1839 to 1860, and a prebendary of Exeter; died at Torquay on 6 Oct. 1864; and published, besides numerous sermons: 1. ‘The Tucknet Split,’ 1824 (under the pseudonym of ‘Pindar’). 2. ‘Sketches of Hayti,’ London, 1827, 8vo. He also edited some of John Wesley's minor works. Edmund George, the eldest son, graduated B.A. at Queens' College, Cambridge, 1850. He afterwards resided for a few years on the continent, and made a ‘pair-oar expedition’ through France, Prussia, &c., which he described in ‘Our Cruise in the Undine.’ He was ordained in 1854, becoming in 1859 curate at St. Mary's, Truro, and in 1860 rector of this, the family living. In 1865 he was transferred to the vicarage of Mullyon or Mullion, Cornwall. Harvey was much interested in church music. He died on 21 June 1884, aged 56, and was buried at Truro.
Harvey published, besides sermons and parochial addresses: 1. ‘Our Cruise in the Undine,’ 1854, 8vo. 2. ‘Short Services for Daily Use in Families,’ 1856; 2nd edition, 1864, 12mo. 3. ‘Psalmody, Gregorian Tones,’ &c., Truro, 1858, 12mo. 4. ‘A Form of Pointing the Canticles to the use of the Anglican Chant,’ Truro, 1859, 12mo (printed for the Cornwall Association of Church Choirs, of which the author was an honorary secretary). 5. ‘Gregorian Chants and Anglican;’ a leaflet, Hayle, 1872, 8vo. 6. ‘Mullyon; its History, Scenery, and Antiquities,’ &c., Truro, 1875, 4to. ‘Truro, Concise History of Ancient Church and City,’ with illustrations, was announced in 1878, but never published. Harvey's musical publications include: ‘La Rosaura,’ polka, 1846; ‘When Death is drawing near,’ 1853; ‘Undinen,’ waltzes, Bruges, 1853; ‘S. Matthias,’ ‘S. Malo,’ and ‘S. Lucian,’ hymn-tunes, Truro, 1859–62; ‘O Lord, my God,’ Weston-super-Mare, 1864; ‘The Signal Gun,’ German melody harmonised, Weston-super-Mare, 1864; ‘Our Children's Matin Hymn,’ London, 1864; ‘Our Children's Evensong,’ London, 1864, 12mo; ‘The Wortle Te Deum’ for parish choirs, London, 1865, 12mo; ‘Strawberry Leaves,’ old Cornish song harmonised, Mullyon, 1867; ‘A Litany of the Holy Name,’ Mullyon, 1870; ‘The Truro Use,’ edited by Harvey, Truro, 1877.
[Boase and Courtney's Bibliotheca Cornubiensis, i. 211–12, 213–14, ii. 861, iii. 1219, 1220; Gent. Mag. 1864, pt. ii. p. 662; Academy, xxvi. 9; Clergy Lists, 1855–65.]