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Biography of Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer 1689-1741

Paternal Family Tree: Harley

In May 1685 [his father] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 23) and [his mother] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer were married.

On 2nd June 1689 Edward Harley 2nd was born to [his father] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 27) and [his mother] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer.

In February 1701 [his father] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 39) was appointed Speaker of the House of Commons.

Around 1st September 1709 [his brother-in-law] George Henry Hay 8th Earl Kinnoull (age 20) and [his sister] Abigail Harley Countess Kinnoul (age 20) were married. She the daughter of [his father] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 47) and [his mother] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer. He the son of Thomas Hay 7th Earl Kinnoull (age 49).

On 23rd May 1711 [his father] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 49) was created 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. [his mother] Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer by marriage Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer.

Harley's Dozen

                    On 1st January 1712 Queen Anne of England Scotland and Ireland (age 46), on behalf of [his father] 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 uncle] 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 brother-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 Middleton.
                
                    Thomas Windsor 1st Viscount Windsor (age 42) was created 1st Baron Mountjoy.

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On 31st August 1713 Edward Harley 2nd (age 24) and 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 11th February 1715 [his daughter] Margaret Cavendish Harley 2nd Duchess Portland was born to Edward Harley 2nd (age 25) and [his wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 21). She married 11th June 1734 her sixth cousin William Bentinck 2nd Duke Portland, son of Henry Bentinck 1st Duke Portland and Elizabeth Noel Duchess Portland, and had issue.

On 5th January 1719 Thomas Hay 7th Earl Kinnoull (age 59) died. His son [his brother-in-law] George (age 29) succeeded 8th Earl Kinnoull. [his sister] Abigail Harley Countess Kinnoul (age 29) by marriage Countess Kinnoull.

Before 1723 Godfrey Kneller (age 76). Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd (age 33).

On 21st May 1724 [his father] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 62) died at Albermarle Street. His son Edward (age 34) succeeded 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. [his wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 30) by marriage Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer.

On 18th October 1725 [his son] Henry Cavendish Harley was born to Edward Harley 2nd (age 36) and [his wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 31). He died aged less than one years old.

On 22nd October 1725 [his son] Henry Cavendish Harley died.

After 1727. Michael Dahl (age 68). Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd (age 37).

Around 1728. Michael Dahl (age 69). Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd (age 38).

On 11th June 1734 [his son-in-law] William Bentinck 2nd Duke Portland (age 25) and [his daughter] Margaret Cavendish Harley 2nd Duchess Portland (age 19) were married at St Peter aka Oxford Chapel Vere Street Marylebone [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Portland. She the daughter of Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 45) and [his wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 40). He the son of Henry Bentinck 1st Duke Portland and Elizabeth Noel Duchess Portland (age 46). They were sixth cousins.

On 16th June 1741 Edward Harley 2nd (age 52) died. His half first cousin Edward (age 42) succeeded 3rd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. Martha Morgan Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 42) by marriage Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer.

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, a canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: "In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed." Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

On 9th December 1755 [his former wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 61) died.

A collection of manuscripts made by [his father] Robert Harley, first earl of Oxford, and augmented by 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.