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

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 Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer 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.

On 31st August 1713 Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (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 Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 25) and [his wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer (age 21). She married 11th June 1734 William Bentinck 2nd Duke Portland, son of Henry Bentinck 1st Duke Portland and Elizabeth Noel Duchess Portland, and had issue.

Before 1723 Godfrey Kneller. Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (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 Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (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. Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (age 37).

Around 1728. Michael Dahl. Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (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 Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (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.

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.