Harvey Christian Combe

He was born in Andover, Hampshire the eldest son of Harvey Combe, a wealthy lawyer, and his wife Christiana Cornhill.

[3] Inheriting a large sum he moved to London and worked as a corn merchant, before going to work for a brewery, Gyfford & Co. Marrying Alice Christian Tree, his cousin, he inherited a large sum on the death of her father Boyce Tree, and set up a brewery with his brother-in-law Joseph Dellafield named "Combe Delafield and Co." on Castle Street in Long Acre, gaining a good reputation as a fine brewer.

[5] Combe was present in the House of Commons when the then Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, was assassinated in the lobby on 11 May 1812.

He chaired a makeshift court convened the same day composed of MPs who were, like himself, also magistrates in order to begin committal proceedings against the murderer, John Bellingham, take witness statements and order messengers to search Bellingham's lodgings.

He built Cobham Park into a substantial country house and estate which upon his death was left to his son Harvey Combe, junior.