Henry Fane

Henry Fane (16 October 1703 – 31 May 1777), of Wormsley near Watlington, Oxfordshire, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1757 to 1777. Early life Fane was the third son of Henry Fane (1669–1726) of Brympton and Anne Scrope, sister of John Scrope of Wormsley. His grandfather was Francis Fane, a Restoration dramatist He was appointed one of the chief clerks of the Board of Treasury in 1742 and held the post until July 1764. In 1756 he was appointed a clerk of the Privy Council. Political career Fane followed a long line of Fanes as Members of Parliament for Lyme Regis, the family's pocket borough, inherited from John Scrope. At times this provided the Fanes with up to two MPs at the same time. Fane's two brothers Thomas and Francis represented Lyme Regis in Parliament. Following the death of Francis, Fane was returned unopposed as MP for Lyme Regis at a by-election on 13 June 1757. He was returned unopposed again at the 1761 general election. On 16 May 1764 he resigned his post as clerk to the Privy Council, apparently in frustration at receiving no further advancement through the political system. He was returned unopposed again at the general elections in 1768 and 1774. Throughout his career he supported the administration. Family and later life Fane died on 31 May 1777.