Harley, Jane Elizabeth Scott, Countess of Oxford, 1774-1824

Jane Elizabeth Scott was born in 1774 the daughter of Reverend James Scott, M.A. Vicar of Itchen Stoke in Hampshire, England. Her mother is unknown. She married Edward Harley, the 5th Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer on March 3, 1794 and had eight children. She was known as a patron of the Reform movement and was known to take several lovers from the pro-Reform party during her marriage. Among her most notable lovers were Sir Francis Burdet and Lord Byron. She was considered “beyond the pale” among the Ton because of her many lovers, though she had a good friendship with one of Lord Byron’s former lovers, Lady Caroline Lamb. Lady Caroline immortalized Lady Jane in her novel “Glenarvon.” Countess Jane Elizabeth Harley died in 1824, in Titley, Herefordshire, England.