Lewis Harvie

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]

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