Biography.guide
Home › People › Aristocrat › Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer
Portrait of Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer

Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer

1694 – 1755

English noblewoman

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer

Lived 1694 – 1755 (aged 61). Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer was a British and English aristocrat.

Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer (née Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles; 11 February 1694 – 9 December 1755) was an English noblewoman, the only child and heiress of John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle and his wife, the former Lady Margaret Cavendish, daughter of Henry Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Her hand was sought in marriage even in her youth as a means of alliance with her powerful father. Suitors included the Intendant of the Court of a Count of the Holy Roman Empire in December 1703, the Elector of Hanover's son (later George I of Great Britain) in June 1706, the Duke of Somerset's son Lord Hertford in 1707–1711, Count Nassau in 1709, and finally Lord Danby (grandson of Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds) in 1711, before her father settled on Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. They were married on 31 August 1713, at Wimpole Hall. She brought, through inheritance, Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire, Bolsover Castle and Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire to her husband.

They had two children. Their son, Henry Cavendish Harley, Lord Harley, lived only four days. Their only child to attain maturity was Margaret (1715–1785), and so whilst Margaret inherited most of the combined Holles-Harley fortunes on her parents' deaths, the title of Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer passed to Edward's cousin (also Edward).

Henrietta Place (previously Henrietta Street) in Marylebone in the City of Westminster in central London was named after the Countess. Nearby Harley Street was named after her husband. The general area was owned by the Harleys and developed during their lifetimes, hence other streets are named after their family, too. This includes Oxford Street, Wigmore Street and Wimpole Street.

She was buried 26 December 1755 in the Duke of Newcastle's vault in Westminster Abbey.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Also known as
Henrietta Cavendish-Holles, Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles

Family & relationships

Spouse
Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
Child
Margaret Bentinck, Duchess of Portland
Parent
John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle
Parent
Margaret Holles, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

People in Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer?

English noblewoman (1694-1755)

When was Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer born?

Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer was born on 11 February 1694.

When did Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer die?

Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer died on 9 December 1755.

What was Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer's occupation?

Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer was an aristocrat.

What nationality was Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer?

Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer was British and English.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer

· Wikidata: Q5715958

· DBpedia: Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer. https://biography.guide/henrietta-harley-countess-of-oxford-and-countess-mortimer/

MLA: "Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henrietta-harley-countess-of-oxford-and-countess-mortimer/.

Chicago: "Henrietta Harley, Countess of Oxford and Countess Mortimer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henrietta-harley-countess-of-oxford-and-countess-mortimer/.

Data last updated: 2026-10-02 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

Page generated 2026-10-05 04:03 UTC