Earl of Oxford

The Earl of Oxford was one of the older titles in the English peerage, and was held for several centuries by the de Vere family from 1141. It finally became dormant in 1703 with the death of the 20th Earl. Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, is perhaps the most famous of the line, because of his emergence as the most popular alternative candidate as the actual author of the works of William Shakespeare (see Shakespearean authorship). The Vere Earls of Oxford were also hereditary holders of the office of Lord Great Chamberlain from 1133 until the death of the 18th Earl in 1625. Their primary seat was Castle Hedingham, Essex, but they held lands across England, particularly in East Anglia. Robert de Vere, 3rd earl of Oxford, was one of the 25 barons of Magna Carta.