John de Vere was born on 8th September 1442, he was the second son of John de Vere 12th Earl of Oxford and Elizabeth Howard.
In February 1462, his elder brother Aubrey de Vere was convicted of high treason before John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester and Constable of England for plotting against King Edward IV.
King Edward allowed for John de Vere to succeed his father as Earl of Oxford. On May 26th 1465 he was named a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of King Edward’s wife Elizabeth Woodville. He was officiated at the ceremony as both Lord Great Chamberlain, due to the absence of the Earl of Warwick who held the current position, and as Chamberlain to the Queen.
In 1468 he was committed to the Tower of London and confessed to plotting with the Lancastrians against the King. However, he was released and given a general pardon on the 5th April 1469.
By July 1469 Oxford had joined with the discontented Yorkists led by his Brother-in-Law, The Earl of Warwick and the King’s brother the Duke of Clarence. Oxford fled overseas to the court of King Henry VI’s Wife Margaret of Anjou.
In September 1470 Oxford joined with Warwick and Clarence in the invasion of England which restored Henry VI to the throne. De Vere was appointed Lord High Constable of England and on the 15th October, he tried and condemned the Earl of Worcester for high 
treason. The same Earl who, in 1462, condemned his Brother.
In March 1471, Oxford prevented Edward IV’s army from landing in Norfolk and was in command of the right wing at the Battle of Barnet on the 14th April 1471, defeating the forces of Lord Hastings. However, these early successes turned to disaster when Oxford’s men started pillaging. Oxford tried to lead them back to the fight but due to the fog they lost their way, emerging on their own forces who mistook Oxford Vere Star as Edward’s Sun. They were met with a volley of arrows from their own side.
After this defeat, Oxford fled to Scotland with only 40 men and his two brothers and was stripped of his lands and titles. He set off from here to France to collect ships and engaged in privateering. On 28th May 1473 Oxford attempted to land unsuccessfully at St Osyth in Essex. However on 30th September 1473 he took St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall. He was besieged here for many months. During this time most of his men deserted and Oxford was wounded in the face by and arrow. He finally surrendered on 15th February 1474.
After his capture he was imprisoned at Hammes Castle in Calais in 1475. In 1478 Oxford scaled the walls of Hammes and leapt into the moat. The new king of England Richard III ordered Oxford’s transfer to England, but before this could take place Oxford has escaped and joined the Earl of Richmond.
At the Battle of Bosworth Oxford commanded Henry VII’s vanguard and archers using a formation called the Oxford wedge. This penetrated Richard III’s army in the shape of an arrow, as well as holding Richmond’s vanguard in fierce fighting in which the Duke of Norfolk, who led Richard’s troops, was slain.
Oxford was immediately recognised as one of the great men of Henry VII’s regime. He was restored to his estates and titles and received many appointments, these included Lord Admiral, Chief Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster and Constable of the Tower of London. He was also appointed as the first Captain of the Yeoman of the Guard. He was sworn into the Privy Council and was recognised as Lord Great Chamberlain of England. As Chamberlain, he officiated the coronations of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. By 1486 he was made a member of the Order of the Garter and stood as Godfather to the Kings eldest 
son Arthur, Prince of Wales.
Oxford continued fighting for Henry VII and led the Vanguard at Stoke during the final battle of the Wars of the Roses in 1487. He was also one of the commanders against the Cornish Rebels at Blackheath in 1497.
When King Henry VIII ascended to the throne, Oxford continued in high favour and again was the Lord Great Chamberlain for his coronation. He resided at Castle Hedingham in Essex, adding to the 12th Century keep.
Oxford died on the 10th March 1513 at Castle Hedingham. He was succeeded as Earl by his Nephew as he had had no sons of his own.
(I do not own the rights to the images used, they are artist’s impressions)
The Blood of History 