June 24 – Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford

On this day in history, 24th June 1604, in the reign of King James I, courtier and poet, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, died at the age of 54.

Here are a few facts about Oxford, and you can view my video on him below:

• He killed a man fencing in 1567 but the coroner ruled that the man committed suicide by running at Oxford’s rapier.
• Oxford had a very unhappy marriage with Anne Cecil, daughter of William Cecil, Lord Burghley.
• He ended up in the Tower after getting one of Elizabeth I’s ladies pregnant.
• 16 lyrical poems have been attributed to him but Oxfordians believe that he was the true author of Shakespeare's works.
• Some people think that Oxford was the son of Elizabeth I by Thomas Seymour.

Also on this day in Tudor history...