Biography of Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford -1719
Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford was born to George Kirke.
On 07 Aug 1632 Robert de Vere 19th Earl of Oxford (age 56) was killed at the Siege of Maastricht. His son [her future husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 5) succeeded 20th Earl of Oxford.
Around 1647 [her future husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 19) and Anne Bayning Countess of Oxford (age 9) were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. He the son of Robert de Vere 19th Earl of Oxford and Beatrice Van Hemmema Countess of Oxford (age 67).
Evelyn's Diary. 09 Jan 1662. I saw acted the Third Part of "The Siege of Rhodes". In this acted the fair and famous comedian called Roxalana (age 19) from the part she performed; and I think it was the last, she being taken to be the [her future husband] Earl of Oxford's (age 34) Miss [Note. Probably Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford] (as at this time they began to call lewd women). It was in recitative music.
Pepy's Diary. 20 May 1662. Sir W. Pen (age 41) and I did a little business at the office, and so home again. Then comes Dean Fuller (age 54) after we had dined, but I got something for him, and very merry we were for an hour or two, and I am most pleased with his company and goodness. At last parted, and my wife and I by coach to the Opera, and there saw the 2nd part of "The Siege of Rhodes", but it is not so well done as when Roxalana (age 20) was there, who, it is said, is now owned by my [her future husband] Lord of Oxford (age 35)1.
Note 1. For note on Mrs. Davenport, who was deceived by a pretended marriage with the Earl of Oxford (age 35), see ante. Lord Oxford's first wife died in 1659. He married, in 1672, his second wife, Diana Kirke, of whom nothing more need be said than that she bore an inappropriate Christian name.
Around 1663 [her future husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 35) and Hester Davenport Countess of Oxford (age 20) were married. When he subsequently married Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford in 1672 it transpired his marriage to Hester Davenport had been a sham with the service being performed by one of his servants. She lost the case making their son [her future step-son] Aubrey de Vere illegitimate. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. It isn't entirely clear whether the marriage was legal and, consequently, whether she became Countess of Oxford. He the son of Robert de Vere 19th Earl of Oxford and Beatrice Van Hemmema Countess of Oxford.
Around 1667 Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford became the mistress of [her future husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 39).
On 12 Apr 1672 Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 45) and Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. He the son of Robert de Vere 19th Earl of Oxford and Beatrice Van Hemmema Countess of Oxford.
On 24 Aug 1673 [her daughter] Charlotte de Vere was born to [her husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 46) and Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford. She was baptised 13 Sep 1673 at St Martin in the Fields [Map].
On 20 May 1675 [her father] George Kirke died.
On 22 Nov 1675 [her son] Charles de Vere was born to [her husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 48) and Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford. He was baptised on 09 Dec 1675 at St Martin in the Fields [Map]. Died as an infant.
In 1679 [her daughter] Diana Vere Duchess St Albans was born to [her husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 51) and Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford.
Before 07 Dec 1680 Peter Lely (age 62). Portrait of Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford.
Around 1682 [her daughter] Henrietta de Vere was born to [her husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 54) and Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford.
On 17 Apr 1694 [her son-in-law] Charles Beauclerk 1st Duke St Albans (age 23) and [her daughter] Diana Vere Duchess St Albans (age 15) were married. She by marriage Duchess St Albans. She the daughter of Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 67) and Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford. He the illegitmate son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland and Nell Gwyn.
On 12 Mar 1703 [her husband] Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford (age 76) died. Earl of Oxford extinct.
In 1719 Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford died.
[her daughter] Mary de Vere was born to Aubrey de Vere 20th Earl of Oxford and Diana Kirke Countess of Oxford.