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[[Image:Edward-de-Vere-1575.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford'' (1575) unknown artist after lost original, National Portrait Gallery, [[London]]]]

[[Image:Edward-de-Vere-1575.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford'' (1575) unknown artist after lost original, National Portrait Gallery, [[London]]]]

An '''Oxfordian''' is someone who supports the Oxfordian Theory of Shakespeare Authorship, i.e., that the plays and poems traditionally attributed to [[William Shakespeare]] of Stratford — including some of the greatest plays in the English language — were actually written by Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, an Elizabethan nobleman who lived between 1550 and 1604. Oxford has been the leading alternate candidate, since first being proposed in the 1920's.

An '''Oxfordian''' is someone who supports the Oxfordian Theory of Shakespeare Authorship, i.e., that the plays and poems traditionally attributed to [[William Shakespeare]] of Stratford — including some of the greatest plays in the English language — were actually written by Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, an Elizabethan nobleman who lived between 1550 and 1604. Oxford has been the leading alternate candidate, since first being proposed in the 1920s.

According to early authorship doubters, Shakespeare of Stratford's documented biography appeared to be in contrast to his reputation as a writer, spawning theories he might not have been the original author. Supporters of alternate authorship theories, known as anti-Stratfordians, maintain Shakespeare of Stratford's lack of education, and the author's intimate knowledge of politics, science, law, medicine and royal pastimes, provide doubts he did not write the works ascribed to him. In addition to Oxford, numerous alternate candidates have been proposed, including Sir [[Francis Bacon]], [[Christopher Marlowe]], and William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby.   

According to early authorship doubters, Shakespeare of Stratford's documented biography appeared to be in contrast to his reputation as a writer, spawning theories he might not have been the original author. Supporters of alternate authorship theories, known as anti-Stratfordians, maintain Shakespeare of Stratford's lack of education, and the author's intimate knowledge of politics, science, law, medicine and royal pastimes, provide doubts he did not write the works ascribed to him. In addition to Oxford, numerous alternate candidates have been proposed, including Sir [[Francis Bacon]], [[Christopher Marlowe]], and William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby.