ROBERT, earl of Oxford and Mortimer, was the eldest son of Sir Edward Harley, and born in 1661. At the Revolution, Sir Edward and his son raised a troop of horse at their own expense; and after the accession of King William and Queen Mary, he obtained a seat in parliament. His promotions were rapid. In 1702, he was chosen speaker of the house of commons; in 1704, he was sworn of Queen Anne's privy council, and the same year made secretary of state; in 1706, he acted as one of the commissioners for the treaty of union; and in 1710 was appointed a commissioner of the treasury, and chancellor and undertreasurer of the exchequer. A daring attempt was made on his life, March 8, 1711, by the marquis of Guiscard a French Papist; who, when under an examination before a committee of the privy council, stabbed him with a penknife. Of this wound, however, he soon recovered.