[1] He was a supporter of John Wilkes, a friend of Catherine Macaulay, and an opponent of the war against the American colonies.

[8] In 1772, Harcourt began to redesign the gardens at Nuneham Courtenay, assisted by William Mason, moving on to the park in 1777.

From 1779 Capability Brown was brought in to advise on the park and gardens;[9] and Paul Sandby, perhaps a contact made through Whitehead, on the interior of the house.

[8] As a patron Harcourt employed Thomas Pitt on a monument to his father,[10] and set up a poetry prize on the Ancient Britons, won by George Richards.

[11] In 1784, he acquired the remainder of the Cogges manor estate from the heirs of Viscount Wenman, to clear the latter's debts.