Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer

Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (* December 5, 1661 in London, † May 21 1724 in London) was a British politician.

Life and work

Harley was the eldest son of Sir Edward Harley (1624-1700), a major landowner in Herefordshire and grandson of the famous author Brilliana Lady Harley ( 1600-1643 ). He was born in Covent Garden in London. Harley grew up in Shilton on at Burdon ( Oxfordshire ) and went together with Simon Harcourt, who later became Lord High Chancellor and Thomas Trevor, who later became Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas to school. At an early age he learned the basics of Whigismus and nonconformity.

In May In 1685 he married Edith, the daughter of Thomas Foley. However, they died in November 1691st Later he married Sarah, daughter of Simon Middleton of Edmonton.

During the " Glorious Revolution " in 1688 featured Sir Edward and his son a mounted force to support of William III. together and conquered in his name Worcester. Then Robert Harley was elected in 1689 as a representative of Tregony into parliament, whose member he remained until 1711, when he was raised to the peer.

From 1701 to 1704 Harley was Speaker of the House. On May 18, 1704 sparked also the Earl of Nottingham from the Secretary of State for the Northern Department. From 1704 to 1708 he was in Whigministerium by Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin active.

In 1710 he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer ( Chancellor of the Exchequer ). On May 23 1711 he was knighted by Queen Anne Baron Harley of Wigmore and Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, on 29 May he was Lord High Treasurer. On March 20, 1712 he was inducted as a member ( "Fellow" ) to the Royal Society; on 25 October of the same year he was made a Knight of the Garter.

In 1714, he lost the trust of Queen Anne, which is now more on Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, trusted, who became his official successor as Lord High Treasurer on 27 July 1714. On August 1, the queen died and George I followed her on the throne. Oxford retired to Herefordshire, but was jailed early as July 16, 1715 at the Tower of London and charged with treason. After two years of imprisonment he was set free again and was allowed to take his seat in the House again. But he showed very little interest in public affairs.

Oxford was in a lively connection with the writers of his time ( Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift) and was a member of the Scriblerus Club. His manuscript collection forms the Harleian Collection in the British Museum.

Harley died on 21 May 1724 in his house in Albemarle Street in London. He was buried in Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire.