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 [aged 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 Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer [aged 27] and Elizabeth Foley Countess of Oxford and Mortimer.

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

On 23rd May 1711 [his father] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer [aged 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.

On 31st August 1713 Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer [aged 24] and Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer [aged 19] were married. She the daughter of John Holles 1st Duke Newcastle upon Tyne and Margaret Cavendish Duchess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 51]. He the son of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer [aged 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 [aged 25] and [his wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer [aged 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 [aged 59] died. His son [his brother-in-law] George [aged 29] succeeded 8th Earl Kinnoull. [his sister] Abigail Harley Countess Kinnoul [aged 29] by marriage Countess Kinnoull.

Before 1723 Godfrey Kneller [aged 76]. Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer [aged 33].

On 21st May 1724 [his father] Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer [aged 62] died at Albermarle Street. His son Edward [aged 34] succeeded 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. [his wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer [aged 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 [aged 36] and [his wife] Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer [aged 31]. He died aged less than one years old.

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

After 1727. Michael Dahl [aged 68]. Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer [aged 37].

Around 1728. Michael Dahl [aged 69]. Portrait of Edward Harley 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer [aged 38].

On 11th June 1734 [his son-in-law] William Bentinck 2nd Duke Portland [aged 25] and Margaret Cavendish Harley 2nd Duchess Portland [aged 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 [aged 45] and Henrietta Cavendish Holles Countess of Oxford and Mortimer [aged 40]. He the son of Henry Bentinck 1st Duke Portland and Elizabeth Noel Duchess Portland [aged 46]. They were sixth cousins.

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

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

A collection of manuscripts made by 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.