Harley, Robert, 1st earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
A Dictionary of British History
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2004
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© A Dictionary of British History 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information)
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Harley, Robert, 1st earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (1661–1724). Prime minister. From a puritan Herefordshire family, Harley was MP for Tregony (1689–90) and New Radnor Boroughs (1690–1711), and in the 1690s a leader of the new country party, as well as twice Speaker of the Commons. He was again Speaker (1702–5), and in 1704 was appointed secretary of state for the northern department in the
Godolphin ministry. His growing Toryism and reputation for deviousness led to his resignation in 1708. His revenge was to gain the confidence of Queen Anne and to engineer the fall of the ministry in 1710, becoming chief minister for the next four years.
Though leader of an essentially Tory ministry, Harley wanted to establish a government above party. He failed as a result of increased extremism in the Tory Party. One week before she died, Anne dismissed Harley from office. He was impeached in 1715, largely for his part in the peace of
Utrecht which George I had opposed, and remained in the Tower until 1717 when proceedings were dropped.
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Robert Harley Oxford, 1st earl of
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
Robert Harley Oxford, 1st earl of see Harley, Robert, 1st earl of Oxford .
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Robert Harley, 1st earl of Oxford
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
Robert Harley, 1st earl of Oxford 1661-1724, English...John Churchill, 1st duke of Marlborough...the Whigs, and Harley came to power with...collection gathered by Harley and his son Edward...See B. Hill, Robert Harley: Speaker...
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Harley, Robert, 1st earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
Book article from: A Dictionary of British History
Harley, Robert, 1st earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (1661–...From a puritan Herefordshire family, Harley was MP for Tregony (1689–...leader of an essentially Tory ministry, Harley wanted to establish a government above...
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Harley, Robert, 1st Earl of Oxford
Book article from: World Encyclopedia
Harley, Robert, 1st Earl of Oxford (1661–1724) British statesman. He was a Tory MP (1688–1711) and speaker of the House of Commons...
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Harley, Robert, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer
Book article from: A Dictionary of World History
Harley, Robert, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1661–1724) British statesman. He entered Parliament as a Whig, and during the early years of Queen...
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