Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
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| Member of Parliament for Radnor |
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| In office 1711–1714 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Harley |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Lewis |
| Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire |
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| In office 1722–1724 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Francis Whichcote Sir Robert Clarke |
| Succeeded by | Sir John Hynde Cotton Samuel Shepheard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 June 1689 England |
| Died | 16 June 1741 (aged 52) England |
| Spouse |
Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles
(m. 1713) |
| Children | 2, including Margaret |
| Parents | Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer Elizabeth Foley |
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (born June 2, 1689 – died June 16, 1741) was an English politician. He was a member of the Tory party. He served in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1711 to 1724.
Early Life
Edward Harley was born on June 2, 1689. His father was Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. His mother was Elizabeth Foley. Edward was their only son.
Political Role and Collections
Edward Harley followed in his family's footsteps. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Radnor from 1711 to 1714. Later, he was an MP for Cambridgeshire from 1722.
In 1724, he became the Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. This meant he moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords. The House of Lords is another part of the British Parliament.
Edward Harley loved books and collecting things. He was known as a bibliophile, which means a person who loves books. He also collected many coins and medals. He was a patron of the arts, meaning he supported artists and writers.
He greatly expanded his father's amazing library. This collection is known as the Harleian Collection. Today, many of these valuable items are kept safe in the British Library.
London Properties
Edward Harley gained a lot of land through his wife. This included Welbeck Abbey and Wimpole Hall. Wimpole Hall became their main home.
However, they had to sell Wimpole Hall in 1740. This was because of Edward's money problems.
He also owned a lot of land in the West End of London. Many famous streets in London are named after his family. These include Harley Street and Oxford Street. Other streets like Wigmore Street and Wimpole Street are also named after his properties.
Family Life
On August 31, 1713, Edward Harley married Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles. She was the only daughter of the 1st Duke of Newcastle.
Edward and Henrietta had two children:
- Lady Margaret Cavendish Harley (1715–1785). She married William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland, in 1734.
- Henry Cavendish Harley, Lord Harley (born and died in 1725).
Lord Oxford and Mortimer passed away in London in 1741. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. His cousin, Edward Harley, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, became the next Earl.
