Thomas Harvey Jr. was born in Perquimans Precinct, North Carolina on December 6, 1692. The son of a deputy governor of the same name, Harvey was raised by his stepfather Chrstopher Gale, the the chief justice of the colony. Harvey served several terms in the colonial assembly from 1719 to 1723 and from 1721 to 1723 also served as the provost marshal of Albemarle County. He was a member of the North Carolina Council from 1724 until his death in Perquimans on October 20, 1729.