Earl of Oxford

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)

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.

The title of Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer was created in the peerage of Great Britain to Robert Harley in 1711; in the 20th century the title of Earl of Oxford and Asquith was created in the peerage of the United Kingdom to the former Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith, whose descendants still bear that title. These later creations bear the double title because the original earldom is not certainly known to be extinct; the first Vere earl may still have living legitimate descendants in the male line, though it would be exceedingly difficult to prove such a claim.

After the discontinuation of the title, the former Prime Minister H. H. Asquith was keen to choose 'Earl of Oxford' for his own title. As an Earldom was then traditional for former Prime Ministers, and Asquith had a number of connections with the city, it seemed a logical choice, and had the King's support. However, it greatly offended the relatives of the dormant Earldom, and in the face of opposition from them, another title had to be selected - the formal title 'Earl of Oxford and Asquith' was finally decided as a compromise, with it being abbreviated to 'Earl of Oxford' in everyday conversation and letters. For information on this creation, see the Earl of Oxford and Asquith.

Earls of Oxford (1142)

• Aubrey de Vere, 1st Earl of Oxford (c. 1110–1194)
• Aubrey de Vere, 2nd Earl of Oxford (c. 1194–1214)
• Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford (d. 1221)
• Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford (c. 1208–1263)
• Robert de Vere, 5th Earl of Oxford (1240–1296) (forfeit 1265, restored soon after)
• Robert de Vere, 6th Earl of Oxford (1257–1331)
• John de Vere, 7th Earl of Oxford (1312–1360)
• Thomas de Vere, 8th Earl of Oxford (1337–1371)
• Robert de Vere, 9th Earl of Oxford (1362–1392) (forfeit 1388)
• Aubrey de Vere, 10th Earl of Oxford (1340–1400) (restored 1393)
• Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford (1385–1417)
• John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford (1408–1462)
• John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford (1442–1513) (forfeit 1475, restored 1485)
• John de Vere, 14th Earl of Oxford (1457–1526)
• John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford (1482–1540)
• John de Vere, 16th Earl of Oxford (1516–1562)
• Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (1550–1604)
• Henry de Vere, 18th Earl of Oxford (1593–1625)
• Robert de Vere, 19th Earl of Oxford (1575–1632)
• Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford (1627–1703) (dormant 1703)

Although there were twenty Earls of Oxford, there were only 15 generations in the succession and a third of those men never bore the title:

1. Aubrey de Vere, 1st Earl of Oxford
2. Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford
3. Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford
4. Robert de Vere, 5th Earl of Oxford
5. Alfonso de Vere
6. John de Vere, 7th Earl of Oxford
7. Aubrey de Vere, 10th Earl of Oxford
8. Richard de Vere, 11th Earl of Oxford
9. Robert de Vere
10. John de Vere
11. John de Vere, 15th Earl of Oxford
12. Aubrey de Vere
13. Hugh de Vere
14. Robert de Vere, 19th Earl of Oxford
15. Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford

Earls of Oxford and Mortimer (1711)

• Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1661–1724)
• Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1689–1741)
• Edward Harley, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1699–1755)
• Edward Harley, 4th Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1726–1790)
• Edward Harley, 5th Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1773–1849)
• Alfred Harley, 6th Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1809–1853)

Earls of Oxford and Asquith (1925)

• See the Earl of Oxford and Asquith