Jeremiah Harman Esq

Jeremiah Harman
Born	19 August 1763 London, England
Died	7 February 1844 (aged 81) London, England
Occupation	Banker

Jeremiah Harman was chief of a family known in the commercial world for nearly a century, and highly esteemed both in England and abroad. He may himself be said to have stood at the head of London city, both as to mercantile and private character; liberal in his dealings, and inspiring confidence by his honor and integrity, as well as love for his personal qualities. As a public character Mr. Harman was known to all the ministers of the day, from William Pitt Jr downwards.

Harman was the principal partner of the very old standing family business, Harman and Co., in which his father was also a principal partner. The business originated with the Lisbon trade and was in extensive transactions with Portugal at the time of the Great Lisbon earthquake of 1755. To the Russian court, the house has been bankers for half a century.

Harman was director of the Bank of England from 1794 to 1827; embracing the eventful period of the restriction of cash payments, and all the great financial and political difficulties of England. He was much consulted by William Pitt the Younger and Lord Liverpool on all questions of moment; and also gave evidence of the most important character before the Bullion Committee of 1810; before the Committees on the , in 1819; on the Bank Charter Committee, in 1832 which formed the basis for the Bank of England's Bank Charter Act of 1833; and on other investigations of similar character and importance.

He was Governor of the Bank of England between 1816 and 1818, and in his first year; an addition of 25%, was made to the capital of Bankstock. Three years afterward, in 1819, the thanks of the Court were voted to him for his share in the labors of a commission which had been appointed by the Crown for the prevention of forgery.

Harman was a key figure in history for his sound judgment in implementing policy changes for dealing with financial crises. His role in the Restriction of Cash Payment, Resumption of Cash Payments and Bank Charter of 1833, along with his daily dealings in his role of Director and Governor all helped to form an understanding of what a financial crisis is. He retired shortly after the Panic of 1825 in 1827 from the position of Director. His efforts were so valued that the thanks of the General Court were unanimously voted to him for his long and valuable services.

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