Biography of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer 1661-1724
Paternal Family Tree: Harley
A collection of manuscripts made by Robert Harley, first earl of Oxford, and augmented by his son [his son] Edward, the second earl. It consisted of some 50,000 books, 350,000 pamphlets, and over 7,000 volumes of manuscripts, including early biblical texts in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, texts of classical authors and church fathers, papal bulls and registers, deeds, charters, state papers, etc. The manuscripts were bought by Parliament in 1753 and placed in the British Museum. They are now in the British Library.
On 05 Dec 1661 Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer was born to Edward Harley (age 37) at Bow Street Covent Garden.
In May 1685 Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 23) and Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer were married.
On 02 Jun 1689 [his son] Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer was born to Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 27) and [his wife] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer.
On 02 Jun 1689 [his daughter] Elizabeth Harley was born to Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 27) and [his wife] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer.
After 02 Jun 1689 [his son] Robert Harley was born to Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 27) and [his wife] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer. He died in 1690.
After 02 Jun 1689 [his daughter] Abigail Harley Countess Kinnoul was born to Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 27) and [his wife] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer.
On 18 Dec 1700 [his father] Edward Harley (age 76) died.
In Feb 1701 Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 39) was appointed Speaker of the House of Commons.
Evelyn's Diary. 09 Feb 1701. The old Speaker (age 53) laid aside, and Mr. Harley (age 39), an able gentleman, chosen. Our countryman, Sir Richard Onslow (age 46), had a party for him.
Evelyn's Diary. 27 Feb 1701. By an order of the House of Commons, I laid before the Speaker (age 39) the state of what had been received and paid toward the building of Greenwich Hospital [Map].
On 18 Jun 1702 [his brother-in-law] Thomas Foley 1st Baron Foley (age 28) and Mary Strode were married. They had seven children of whom only two survived their parents.
Around 01 Sep 1709 [his son-in-law] George Henry Hay 8th Earl Kinnoull (age 20) and [his daughter] Abigail Harley Countess Kinnoul (age 20) were married. She the daughter of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 47) and Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer. He the son of Thomas Hay 7th Earl Kinnoull (age 49).
In 1710 [his brother-in-law] John Foley (age 28) drowned.
In 1711 Godfrey Kneller (age 64). Portrait of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 49).
On 23 May 1711 Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 49) was created 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. [his wife] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer by marriage Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer.
On 01 Jan 1712 Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 46), on behalf of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 50), created a number of new Baronies to balance power in Parliament, known as Harley's Dozen, ...
Allen Bathurst 1st Earl Bathurst (age 27) was created 1st Baron Bathurst.
Charles Bruce 4th Earl Elgin 3rd Earl Ailesbury (age 29) by writ of acceleration 3rd Baron Bruce of Skelton in Yorkshire.
James Compton 5th Earl of Northampton (age 24) by writ of acceleration 6th Baron Compton of Compton in Warwickshire.
[his brother-in-law] Thomas Foley 1st Baron Foley (age 38) was created 1st Baron Foley.
George Granville 1st Baron Lansdowne (age 45) was created 1st Baron Lansdowne of Bideford in Devon. Mary Villiers Baroness Lansdowne by marriage Baroness Lansdowne of Bideford in Devon.
[his son-in-law] George Henry Hay 8th Earl Kinnoull (age 22) was created 1st Baron Hay of Pedwardine in Herefordshire.
Thomas Mansel 1st Baron Mansel (age 44) was created 1st Baron Mansel of Margam. Martha Millington Baroness Mansel by marriage Baroness Mansel of Margam.
Samuel Masham 1st Baron Masham (age 33) was created 1st Baron Masham of Otes in Essex. Abigail Hill Baroness Masham (age 42) by marriage Baroness Masham of Otes in Essex.
Henry Paget 1st Earl Uxbridge (age 48) was created 1st Baron Burton.
Thomas Trevor 1st Baron Trevor Bromham (age 53) was created 1st Baron Trevor Bromham.
Thomas Willoughby 1st Baron Middleton (age 39) was created 1st Baron Middleton. Elizabeth Rothwell Baroness Willoughby and Middleton by marriage Baroness Trevor Bromham, Baroness Middleton.
Thomas Windsor 1st Viscount Windsor (age 42) was created 1st Baron Mountjoy.
On 25 Oct 1712 Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 50) was appointed 522nd Knight of the Garter by Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 47).
On 16 Dec 1712 [his son-in-law] Peregrine Osborne 3rd Duke Leeds (age 21) and [his daughter] Elizabeth Harley (age 23) were married. She the daughter of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 51) and Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer. He the son of Peregrine Osborne 2nd Duke Leeds (age 53) and Bridget Hyde Duchess Leeds (age 50).
On 31 Aug 1713 [his son] Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 19) were married. She the daughter of John Holles 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne and Margaret Cavendish Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne (age 51). He the son of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 51) and Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer.
On 20 Nov 1713 [his daughter] Elizabeth Harley (age 24) died in childbirth.
Before 1724 Johnathan "The Elder" Richardson (age 56). Portrait of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 62).
On 21 May 1724 Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 62) died at Albermarle Street. His son [his son] Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 34) succeeded 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. [his daughter-in-law] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 30) by marriage Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer.
The 1717 Indemnity Act freed a large number of prisoners including hundreds of Jacobite supporters of which some two hundred had been captured at the 1715 Battle of Preston. The Act didn't under attainders or restore lands. Those released included:
William Murray 2nd Lord Nairne.
Robert Dalzell 5th Earl of Carnwath 1687-1737.
William Widdrington 4th Baron Widdrington.
There were exemptions including:
Matthew Prior Poet 1664-1721.
Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer.
Simon Harcourt 1st Viscount Harcourt.
Thomas Harley of Kinsham Court 1667-1738.
All members of the Clan McGregor including Rob Roy MacGregor.
Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 15 Grand Son of William "Lion" I King Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 16 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 12 Grand Son of Philip "The Fair" IV King France
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Harley of Brampton Bryan
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Harley of Brampton Bryan
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Croft
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ann Croft
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Harley
GrandFather: Robert Harley 10 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Corbet 6 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Corbet 7 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Vernon
6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Andrew Corbet 8 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Windsor 1st Baron Windsor
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Windsor 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Blount Baroness Windsor
7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Corbet 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Father: Edward Harley 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Conway
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Conway Governor of Ostend
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Conway of Arrow
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ralph Verney
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine Verney
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Weston
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edward Conway 1st Viscount Conway 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Greville
Great x 3 Grandfather: Fulk Greville Baron Latimer, Baron Willoughby
Great x 2 Grandmother: Helen Greville 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Willoughby 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Willoughby 11th Baroness Latimer 3rd Baroness Willoughby Broke 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Neville
4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
GrandMother: Brilliana Conway 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England