William Vane, 1st Duke of Cleveland

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William Henry Vane, 1st Duke of Cleveland, KG (27 July 176629 January) 1842) was a British peer.

He was born in 1766, the son of the 2nd Earl of Darlington, and was baptised at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace (with the names William Harry which he later changed to William Henry). He was styled Viscount Barnard from birth.

Lord Barnard was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and on 17 September 1787 he married his cousin, Lady Catherine Powlett (17661807), a daughter of the 6th Duke of Bolton.

Barnard was Whig Member of Parliament for Totnes from 1788 to 1790 then for Winchelsea from 1790 to 1792. He married his second wife, Elizabeth Russell (17771861), on 27 July 1813.

In 1792, he succeeded his father as 3rd Earl of Darlington, and was created Marquess of Cleveland in 1827. He was later Bearer of the Third Sword at King William IV's coronation on 8 September 1831 and was created Baron Raby, of Raby Castle in the County Palatine of Durham, and Duke of Cleveland in 1833.

In 1810 he successfully laid claim to the Pulteney Estate in Bath after the Countess of Bath died intestate in 1808.

The Duke of Cleveland was created a Knight of the Garter in 1839, died in 1842 and was buried at Staindrop in County Durham.

He had eight children, all by his first wife:

  • Henry, Earl of Darlington, later 2nd Duke of Cleveland (17881864)
  • Lady Louisa Vane (17911821) (married Major Francis Forester)
  • Lord William Vane, later 3rd Duke of Cleveland (17921864)
  • Lady Caroline Vane (born and died 1795)
  • Lady Augusta Vane (17961874) (married Mark Milbank and had issue)
  • Lady Arabella Vane (18011864) (married the 3rd Baron Alvanley)
  • Lord Harry Vane, later 4th Duke of Cleveland (18031891)
  • Lady Laura Vane (born 1808) (married Lt-Col. William Meyrick and had issue)
Honorary Titles
Preceded by
The Earl of Darlington
Lord Lieutenant of Durham
1792–1842
Succeeded by
The Marquess of Londonderry
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
New Creation
Duke of Cleveland Succeeded by
Henry Vane
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by
Henry Vane
Earl of Darlington Succeeded by
Henry Vane
In other languages