Henry Vane the Younger

Sir Henry Vane the Younger
Portrait by Sir Peter Lely
5th Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
In office 25 May 1636 – 17 May 1637
Preceded by	John Haynes
Succeeded by	John Winthrop
Joint Treasurer of the Navy
In office 1639–1642
Preceded by	Sir William Russell
Succeeded by	Sir John Penington
Joint Treasurer of the Navy
In office 1645–1650
Preceded by	Sir William Russell
Succeeded by	Richard Hutchinson
Member of the English Parliament for Kingston upon Hull (UK Parliament constituency)
In office April 1640 – November 1650 Serving with Sir John Lister (died 1640) followed by Peregine Pelham
Preceded by	No Parliaments convened 1629-1640
Succeeded by	Not represented in the Barebones' Parliament
Member of the English Council of State
In office 17 Feb 1649 – 20 Apr 1653
Lord President of the English Council of State
In office 17 May 1652 – 14 June 1652
Preceded by	Henry Rolle
Succeeded by	The Earl of Pembroke
Member of the English Council of State
In office 19 May 1659 – 25 Oct 1659
Member of the English Committee of Safety
In office 26 Oct 1659 – 25 Dec 1659
Member of the English Parliament for Whitchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
In office January 1659 – May 1659 Serving with Second seat was vacant
Preceded by	Not represented in the Barebones' nor First and Second Protectorates Parliament
Succeeded by	Not represented in the restored Rump Parliament
Member of the English Parliament for Kingston upon Hull (UK Parliament constituency)
In office May 1659 – January 1660 Serving with Second seat was vacant
Preceded by	John Ramsden
Succeeded by	John Ramsden
Personal details
Born	baptised 26 March 1613 Debden, Essex, England
Died	14 June 1662(1662-06-14) (aged 49) Tower Hill, London
Signature

Sir Henry Vane (baptised 26 March 1613 – 14 June 1662), often referred to as Harry Vane and Henry Vane the Younger to distinguish him from his father, Henry Vane the Elder, was an English politician, statesman, and colonial governor. He was briefly present in North America, serving one term as the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and supported the creation of Roger Williams' Rhode Island Colony and Harvard College. A proponent of religious tolerance, as governor, he defended Anne Hutchinson^[2] and her right to teach religious topics in her home which put him in direct conflict with the Puritan leaders in the Massachusetts Colony.^[3][4] He returned to England after losing re-election and eventually, Hutchinson was banned from the colony.^[5]

He was a leading Parliamentarian during the English Civil War and worked closely with Oliver Cromwell. He played no part in the execution of King Charles I, and refused to take oaths that expressed approval of the act. Vane served on the Council of State that functioned as the government executive during the Interregnum, but split with Cromwell over issues of governance and removed himself from power when Cromwell dissolved Parliament in 1653. He returned to power during the short-lived Commonwealth period from 1659–1660. His fight for government reform, a constitution, and civil and religious liberties^[6][7][8] made him a man "too dangerous to let live" in King Charles II's view. As such, he was arrested under orders from Charles II following his restoration to the throne. After a long debate, Vane was exempted from the Indemnity and Oblivion Act, and was thus denied the amnesty granted to most people for their roles in the Civil War and Interregnum.

Although he was formally granted clemency by Charles II, he was indicted for high treason by a Middlesex grand jury after charges were presented by the king's attorney general, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, in 1662.^[9] In a court proceeding in which he was denied counsel and the opportunity to properly prepare a defence, he was convicted by a Royalist jury. Charles withdrew his earlier clemency, and Vane was beheaded on Tower Hill on 14 June 1662.

Vane was recognised by his political peers as a competent administrator and a wily and persuasive negotiator and politician. His politics was driven by a desire for religious tolerance in an era when governments were used to establish official churches and suppress dissenting views. Although his views were in a small minority, he was able to successfully build coalitions to advance his agenda. His actions contributed to both the rise and downfall of the English Commonwealth. His books and pamphlets written on political and religious subjects are still analysed today. His writing A Healing Question advocated for a constitutional convention pre-dating the American Constitutional Convention by over a century.^[10] Vane is remembered in Massachusetts and Rhode Island as an early champion of freedom.

The New England Historical and Genealogical Society wrote of him in 1848:

Those who have been accustomed to view Roger Williams in his true character, – a great and wonderful man, a pioneer in establishing religious and consequently political liberty, – must accord the same virtues to Sir Henry Vane. It is true, the latter did not lay down his life here in our land, nor was he compelled to fly to the wilderness to enjoy his opinions; but he did die for them, when and where the greatest good would accrue to the world. If Roger Williams deserves all the praise and admiration from posterity which he now has, and which are sure to increase in all future time, Sir Henry Vane certainly deserves no less.^[11]