New Hampshire
Gov. Matthew Harvey
- June 3, 1830 - February 28, 1831
- Democratic
- June 21, 1781
- April 7, 1866
- New Hampshire
- Dartmouth College
- Married Margaret Rowe; two children
- Resigned
- Representative
About
MATTHEW HARVEY, the twentieth governor of New Hampshire was born in Sutton, New Hampshire on June 21, 1781. His education was attained at Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1806. He studied law, and then established his legal career in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Harvey first entered politics as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, a position he held from 1814 to 1820, and from which he also served three terms as speaker. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1821 to 1825; was a member and president of the New Hampshire State Senate from 1825 to 1827; and served on the Executive Council from 1828 to 1830. Harvey next secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and then went on to win the 1830 general election. During his tenure, prison reform was advocated for; and elimination of the debt imprisonment law was lobbied for, however, this was not accomplished until ten years later. Harvey resigned from office on February 28, 1831, to take a seat on the U.S. district court bench, an appointment he held until death. Governor Matthew Harvey was buried in the Old North Cemetery in Concord, New Hampshire.
Source
Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources
Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 3, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.
