Bishop of Derry.

Ordained in the Anglican Church. Clerk of the privy seal (1756); principal clerk (1761). Royal chaplain (1763). Traveled extensively on the continent. Bishop of Cloyne (1767); translated to bishopric of Derry (1768). Liberal and eccentric. Invested in roads and bridges in his diocese; promoted agricultural reform and coal mining; supported penal reform and the Catholic franchise. Visited Italy (1777-79) and met Franklin in Paris on his way home to Ireland. Claimed to have acquired valuable intelligence in Paris, but neither Franklin nor the British government took Hervey’s spying efforts seriously.

Son of John Hervey, Baron Hervey of Ickworth, and his wife Mary Lepell. Educated at Westminster School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (M.A. 1754, D.D. 1770). Married Elizabeth Davers (1752); five children. Succeeded to earldom (1779).