Harley, Robert, 1st earl of Oxford (1661-1724)
About this picture
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, oil on canvas, 1714: National Portrait Gallery, London, NPG 4011
About the subject
MP for Tregony 1689-90, New Radnor Boroughs 1690-1711; Peer 1711-d. Speaker of the House of Commons, 1701-5. Devious and secretive, an inveterate ‘schemer’, known popularly as ‘Robin the trickster’, Robert Harley was the most important parliamentarian of his day, who moved over his political career from being a whig, with strong presbyterian associations, to being closely identified with the tories, although tories were always suspicious about his morals, his churchmanship and his politics. Rising to fame through his innovative use of the commission of public accounts in the 1690s, he led the tories from the chair of the House in a highly political Speakership in 1701-5, and then held the highest offices of state between 1710-14, becoming prime minister in all but name.
Linked Members:
HARLEY, Robert II (1661-1724), of Brampton Bryan, Herefs.HARLEY, Robert (1661-1724), of Brampton Bryan, Herefs.
