Robert Harley, 1st earl of Oxford summary

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Robert Harley, 1st earl of Oxford, (born Dec. 5, 1661, London, Eng.—died May 21, 1724, London), English politician. Elected to Parliament in 1688, he led a coalition of Whigs and moderate Tories. He was speaker of the House of Commons (1701–05) and secretary of state (1704–08). A favourite of Queen Anne, he changed his politics to ally with the Tories. He became chancellor of the Exchequer and head of the Tory ministry in 1710. Created earl of Oxford (1711) and lord treasurer, he secured a reasonable peace at the Peace of Utrecht (1713). He was exiled from power by the Hanoverian succession and imprisoned (1715–17), after which he retired from politics.

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