Edward Harley (7 June 1664 – 30 August 1735) was a British

Tory A Tory () is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The To ...

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. He sat as Member of Parliament for twenty seven years supporting the group led by his brother, Robert Harley. He was also Auditor of the Imprests. Because of this, and to distinguish him from other family members of the same name, is frequently known as Auditor Harley.

Career

He was second son of Edward Harley of Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire and the younger brother of

Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer, KG PC FRS (5 December 1661 – 21 May 1724) was a British statesman of the late Stuart and early Georgian periods. He began his career as a Whig, before defecting to a new Tory ministr ...

. He was educated at

Westminster School Westminster School is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Westminster, London, England, in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. It descends from a charity school founded by Westminster Benedictines before the Norman Conquest, as do ...

and the

Middle Temple The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court entitled to Call to the bar, call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple (with whi ...

(1681), where he was

called to the bar The call to the bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received "call to ...

in 1688. He represented Droitwich in Parliament from 1695 to 1698, after which he was a member for

Leominster Leominster ( ) is a market town in Herefordshire, England; it is located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary the River Kenwater. The town is north of Hereford and south of Ludlow in Shropshire. With a population of almos ...

, almost continuously until 1722. He was appointed Recorder of Leominster for 1692-1732 and joint Auditor of the Imprests for life in 1702. He was a solid supporter of his brother's government from 1710 to 1714. He strongly opposed the 1715 measure in the Commons to have Harley impeached, but this was unsuccessful and his brother was imprisoned in the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...

for two years. He purchased the Eywood estate at Titley, Herefordshire and there around 1705 built a new house, which was demolished in 1958.

Family

He married Sarah Foley, third daughter of Thomas Foley. Their eldest son (

Edward Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-S ...

) succeeded as 3rd Earl of Oxford on the death of his brother Robert's son

, the 2nd earl, without male issue. Their second son Robert died in infancy, after which came a daughter named Abigail and finally another son Robert Harley, Recorder of

and twice Member of Parliament for that town.

Sources

thepeerage.com
* *''Burke's Peerage'' (1851 edition). * Sarah Harley funerary monument, Brampton Bryan church, Herefordshire.

Bibliography

* Rogers, Pat. ''The Life and Times of Thomas, Lord Coningsby: The Whig Hangman and his Victims''. A&C Black, 2011. , - 1664 births 1735 deaths Politicians from Herefordshire

People educated at Westminster School, London Members of the Middle Temple Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies English MPs 1695–1698 English MPs 1698–1700 English MPs 1701 English MPs 1701–1702 English MPs 1702–1705 English MPs 1705–1707 British MPs 1707–1708 British MPs 1708–1710 British MPs 1710–1713 British MPs 1713–1715 British MPs 1715–1722 {{1698-England-MP-stub