the Earl of Oxford (Edward de Vere)

The Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere (1550–1604), was an English nobleman, poet, and playwright during the Elizabethan era. He is best known for his extensive literary work and for being considered by some as a candidate for the true author of William Shakespeare's plays and poems. The "Oxfordian" theory suggests that de Vere’s education, court connections, and literary talent made him a more likely author than Shakespeare. However, this hypothesis remains debated among scholars. Overall, de Vere was a prominent figure in the arts and courtly society of 16th-century England.