Thomas Harley (of Kinsham)

With the support of his cousin Robert, he was returned in a contest as Member of Parliament for Radnorshire at the 1698 English general election.

He was returned unopposed again at the second general election of 1701 and voted on 26 February 1702 for the motion which vindicated the proceedings of the Commons in impeaching the four Whig Lords.

At the 1708 British general election, he was returned as Tory MP for Radnorshire, and voted against the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell.

[1] Harley was an entertaining wit, and a member of Jonathan Swift's circle, and was invited to join the 'Society of Brothers', a dining/drinking-club founded by Henry St John.

However his tactfulness and subtle dialogue marked him out as a natural diplomat, and he was chosen envoy to Hanover in 1712 to soothe the Elector over Great Britain's willingness to negotiate a peace with France, ending the War of the Spanish Succession.

The Elector was suspicious of him, and upon King George's ascent to the British throne he lost his place at the Treasury.