Master Albert Harvey – Tudor Alchemist and Physician

When Mr. Albert Harvey, the Tudor Alchemist, isn’t slaving over a hot athanor in his laboratory, distilling or calcining various substances, he enjoys nothing better than playing various medieval traditional games.

Originally from Ramsgate, on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, Albert Harvey moved to Canterbury at age 7 when he became apprenticed to an apothecary. In his early twenties, having set up his own apothecary shop, Albert became interested in the Art and Science of Alchemy. As well as supplying pigments to artists, as an alchemist Albert has developed the work of the great Paracelsus and, in his middle years, has even perfected the Art of Transmutation. Or at least he says he has.

The Search for a Master Alchemist

To learn the secret of The Philosophers’ Stone Albert sold his shop and travelled to Italy. There, after over a year of searching, Albert found a Master in the city of Sienna, who he persuaded to teach him. After 25 years of study Albert could finally title himself Master and, with his newly made Philosophers’ Stone, he headed back to England.

All did not go well, however, as it seemed a rumour had spread about an alchemist carrying the Philosophers’ Stone. While travelling near the city of Worms, Master Albert was set upon and captured. He was imprisoned and forced to use his Philosophers’ Stone to make gold. When the Stone was used up he was, luckily, released, with a small amount of his own alchemically made gold and allowed to finish his trip back home, albeit after two years of delay.