Daniel Whittle Harvey
Encyclopedia
Daniel Whittle Harvey was a Radical English politician who founded The Sunday Times
newspaper and was the first Commissioner of the City of London Police
.
Harvey trained as a lawyer, and became a Fellow of the Inner Temple
in 1818, but was twice refused admission to the bar
. He first stood for Parliament in 1812 as Radical candidate for Colchester
, and was defeated, but secured election for the same borough in 1818. At the 1820 election he was deprived of victory when his qualification proved defective, but he was re-elected in 1826 and for several elections thereafter; he subsequently also represented Southwark
. He was a gifted orator and consistently took a moderate radical line, advocating limited reform both of Parliament and of the Church
, and was at times bitterly at odds with the Whig
government. In 1839 he was one of the MPs who took part in the conference with William Lovett
's London Working Men's Association from which the Chartists
emerged.
In 1821, Harvey founded a Sunday newspaper, The New Observer, which the following year adopted its present title, The Sunday Times
. On one occasion he was imprisoned when the paper libelled the King, George IV.
In 1839, he was appointed Registrar of the Metropolitan Public Carriages, becoming the chief regulator of the taxi
trade in London. Later the same year, the City of London Police
was re-organised, and Harvey relinquished his seat in Parliament to become its first Commissioner; he retained the post until 1863.
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
newspaper and was the first Commissioner of the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
.
Harvey trained as a lawyer, and became a Fellow of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1818, but was twice refused admission to the bar
Barristers in England and Wales
Barristers in England and Wales are one of the two main categories of lawyer in England and Wales, the other being solicitors. -Origin of the profession:The work of senior legal professionals in England and Wales...
. He first stood for Parliament in 1812 as Radical candidate for Colchester
Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)
Colchester is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
, and was defeated, but secured election for the same borough in 1818. At the 1820 election he was deprived of victory when his qualification proved defective, but he was re-elected in 1826 and for several elections thereafter; he subsequently also represented Southwark
Southwark (UK Parliament constituency)
Southwark was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Southwark district of South London. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament from 1295 to 1707, to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. He was a gifted orator and consistently took a moderate radical line, advocating limited reform both of Parliament and of the Church
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, and was at times bitterly at odds with the Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
government. In 1839 he was one of the MPs who took part in the conference with William Lovett
William Lovett
William Lovett was a British activist who was a leader of the political movement Chartism as well as one of the leading London-based Artisan Radicals of his generation....
's London Working Men's Association from which the Chartists
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
emerged.
In 1821, Harvey founded a Sunday newspaper, The New Observer, which the following year adopted its present title, The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
. On one occasion he was imprisoned when the paper libelled the King, George IV.
In 1839, he was appointed Registrar of the Metropolitan Public Carriages, becoming the chief regulator of the taxi
Hackney carriage
A hackney or hackney carriage is a carriage or automobile for hire...
trade in London. Later the same year, the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
was re-organised, and Harvey relinquished his seat in Parliament to become its first Commissioner; he retained the post until 1863.