Edward Harley (1664–1735)


Edward Harley, of Eywood, Titley, Herefordshire was a British Member of Parliament and Auditor of the Imprests.
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. He was educated at Westminster School and the Middle Temple, where he was called to the bar in 1688.
He represented Droitwich in Parliament from 1695 to 1698, after which he was a member for Leominster, almost continuously until 1722. He was appointed Recorder of Leominster for 1692-1732 and joint Auditor of the Imprests for life in 1702.
He purchased the Eywood estate at Titley, Herefordshire and there around 1705 built a new house, which was demolished in 1958.
He married Sarah Foley, third daughter of Thomas Foley. Their eldest son succeeded as 3rd Earl of Oxford on the death of his brother Robert's son Edward, 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 Leominster and twice Member of Parliament for that town.