Edward William Harcourt

Edward was born in Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, the son of Matilda Mary Gooch and Rev. William Vernon Harcourt who was a scientist, and grandson of Edward Harcourt, Archbishop of York.^{[citation needed]} Edward's brother was the politician Sir William Vernon Harcourt, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the Opposition.^[1]

He matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford in 1843.^[2]

In 1849, Harcourt married Lady Susan Harriet Holroyd (1829–1894), the daughter of George Holroyd, 2nd Earl of Sheffield and Lady Harriet Lascelles. Together, they were the parents of:^[1]

1. Aubrey Harcourt (1852–1904), who died unmarried.^[3]
2. Edith Harcourt (1855–1944), who married Murray Finch-Hatton, 12th Earl of Winchilsea, in 1875.^[1]

Edward inherited Nuneham House and Park in 1871 and had a new Nuneham Courtenay parish church built in 1872–74.^[4]

Harcourt was a J.P. for Berkshire and Sussex, and a J.P. and deputy lieutenant for Oxfordshire and High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1875. He was Commanding Officer and later Honorary Colonel of the 1st Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers of the Royal Artillery.^[5] He was a member of Royal Commission for organizing the Volunteer Force in 1862, and was 15 years President of National Artillery Association.^[6]

He was the author of Sketch of Madeira (1851) and Sporting in Algeria (1859), published under the name of "Edward Vernon Harcourt". The former was dedicated to his mother-in-law, Harriet Holroyd, Countess of Sheffield.^[7]

He served as Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire from 1878 to 1885 and for Henley from 1885 to 1886.^[8]

• 1851. A Sketch of Madeira. London: John Murray.
• 1859. Sporting in Algeria.

Harcourt died at Nuneham Park on 19 December 1891.^[9] His son died in 1904 and the Nuneham estates passed to Harcourt's brother, Sir William, who died shortly thereafter and his son, Lewis Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt.^[3]