The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
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).
