Harley

Harley, Robert, Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1661-1724), an English statesman, belonged to an old Herefordshire family. He was brought up as a Whig and a Dissenter, but soon after entering Parliament he joined the Tories. In 1701 he was chosen Speaker. Admitted to the Ministry of Marlborough and Godolphin in 1704, he became the leader of the Tory section, and made use of his cousin, Mrs. Abigail Hill (subsequently Mrs. Masham) to prejudice the queen against Marlborough, but the Whigs discovered his intrigues and he was dismissed (1708). In 1710 he was made Chancellor of the Exchequer and placed at the head of a Tory Administration with St. John-as Secretary of State. He at once entered into secret negotiations with France, perhaps hoping that after peace had been secured the French would assist in effecting a restoration of the Stuarts. An attempt to stab him in the Privy Council, made by a French refugee named Gniscard (1711), increased his popularity; he was created Earl of Oxford and given the post of Lord High Treasurer. After the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) he was prevented by his vacillating character and love of intrigue from adopting the distinctly Jacobite tactics pursued by his colleague St. John (now Lord Bolingbroke), but he certainly gave some countenance to the hopes of the Pretender. In 1714aquarrel with Bolingbroke, who had gained the support of Mrs. Masham, resulted in his dismissal. After the arrival of George I. he was impeached and imprisoned in the Tower (1715). Two years later he was brought to trial, but acquitted. The remainder of his life was passed in retirement. Harley was a man of literary tastes and a friend and patron of Swift, Pope, and other men of letters. He founded the Harleian collection of books and MSS., now in the British Museum.