John Harvey, Revolutionary Leader
Hertford, Perquimans County, North Carolina
Marker Inscription
John Harvey. Five times speaker of colonial assembly, moderator of provincial congresses, 1774-1775, leader of Revolutionary movement. Lived 11 mi. S.
Erected by North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
The Story
John Harvey was a towering figure on North Carolina's road to independence, serving five times as speaker of the colonial assembly and presiding as moderator over the provincial congresses of 1774-1775 that defied royal authority. His leadership helped move the colony toward open revolution before his death in 1775. He lived about eleven miles to the south.
Why it matters
Harvey helped organize colonial self-government in North Carolina at the very moment it broke with the Crown — a crucial first step toward independence.
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Related people
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