Henry Vane the Elder

Sir Henry Vane (18 February 15891655), known as the Elder to distinguish him from his son, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1654. He served King Charles in many posts including secretary of state, but on the outbreak of the English Civil War joined the Parliamentary cause. He was the third cousin of Francis Fane, 1st Earl of Westmorland. Origins and education Vane was the eldest son of Henry Vane or Fane of Hadlow, Kent, by his second wife, Margaret (daughter of Roger Twysden of East Peckham, Kent, and Anne Wyatt). He matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, on 15 June 1604 and was admitted a student of Gray's Inn in 1606. He was knighted by James I on 3 March 1611. Political advancement At the age of twenty-three he married Frances Darcy, daughter of Thomas Darcy of Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex. Immediately after his marriage, writes Vane in an autobiographical sketch, 'I put myself into court, and bought a carver's place by means of the friendship of Sir Thomas Overbury, which cost me £5,000.' Next year he devoted the £3,000 of his wife's portion to purchasing from Sir Edward Gorges a third part of the subpoena office in chancery, and later so ingratiated himself with the king that James gave him the reversion of the whole office for forty years.