Oxford, Edward de Vere, 17th earl of

Oxford, Edward de Vere, 17th earl of, 1550–1604, English poet, b. Castle Heddingham, Essex, educated at Queens' and St. John's colleges, Cambridge. He traveled in Italy, acted in and produced plays, and was one of the court circle of writers. On the theory that he wrote Shakespeare's plays, see studies by E. T. Clark (1937) and L. P. Bénézet (1958).

See his poems (ed. by J. T. Looney, 1921).

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