Irish poet, born at Curragh Chase, county Limerick, in 1788. The family was founded by Vere Hunt, an English soldier of noble descent, who went from Essex to Ireland in Cromwell’s army, and afterwards settled there. A descendant, also named Vere Hunt, was made a baronet in 1784. His son, Aubrey, on succeeding to the title in 1818, dropped the name Hunt and assumed the name and arms of de Vere. At an early age he had married Mary Rice, sister of Lord Monteagle. He wrote little till he reached his thirtieth year, when he produced in succession two dramatic poems, Julian, the Apostate, and The Duke of Mercia. He was a friend and admirer of Wordsworth, and dedicated to him A Song of Faith; Devout Exercises and Sonnets (1842). De Vere especially cultivated the sonnet, studying Petrarch and Filicaia. He was of a deeply religious nature and firmly attached to the Church of England, but favored the introduction of religious equality in Ireland. In the last year of his life he composed his longest dramatic poem, Mary Tudor, which was published after his death. He died in 1846.
