called Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford

Aubrey de Vere (1626-1703), 20th Earl of Oxford (1627-1703, the last of the old creation); his father was killed with the Dutch Army in 1632 and he was brought up in Holland, fighting with the Dtuch 1644-46; he upheld the Royalist cause during the English Commonwealth, being twice imprisoned in the Tower in 1654 and 1659, acted as envoy to recall Charles II in 1660; KG and Lord Lieutenant of Essex in 1660; he subsequently opposed James II and supported William III. The inscription is worn and the sitter's age was perhaps originally given correctly as 36.

Credit: Fairfax Murray Gift, 1911...