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 under-treasurer 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 peanife. Of this wound, however, he soon recovered; ed; and was the same year created earl of Oxford, and lord high-treasurer, which office he resigned just before the queen's death. He was impeached of high treason in 1715, and committed to the Tower; but was cleared by trial, and died in 1724. His character has been variously represented, but cannot be here discussed. He was not only an encourager of literature, but the greatest collector in his time of curious books and MSS., his collection of which makes a capital part of the British Museum. See Harleian Collection.

Harling. See Herling.