Christopher Vane, 1st Baron Barnard

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Lord Barnard.
Lord Barnard.

Christopher Vane, 1st Baron Barnard (May 21, 1653–October 28, 1723) was an English peer. He was known for his infamous treatment of his heirs and employing as his steward Peter Smart, father of the poet Christopher Smart.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Christopher Vane was the son of Henry Vane the Younger. He inherited Raby Castle, Durham and Fairlawn,Kent.[1] However, he inherited these estates from the beheading of his father at Tower Hill in 1662.[2]

Vane was Whig MP for County Durham from 1675 to 1679, and for Boroughbridge from 1689 to 1690 (when his election was overturned on petition). On May 9, 1676, he married Elizabeth Holles (daughter of Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare), and there was an immediate dislike by both Christopher and Elizabeth of her brother/co-heir John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[1] They had three children:

  • Henry Vane (1676–1676), died in infancy.
  • Gilbert Vane, 2nd Baron Barnard (1678–1753), married to Mary Randyll, mother of Anne, mistress of Frederick, Prince of Wales
  • William Vane, 1st Viscount Vane (c. 1680–1734), married to Lucy Jolliffe

Christopher was made a Privy counsellor in 1688. In 1698, Vane was created Baron Barnard of Barnard Castle by William III.[1] During his time at Raby Castle, Christopher hired John Bazire and Peter Smart, father of the Christopher Smart.[3] A struggle between his wife and his daughter-in-law Lucy Jolliffe ensued after 1703 and Christopher refused to pay the inheritance annuity to his son, William, after William was to be given the Fairlawn estate.[1] Christopher accomplished this task by giving Fairlawn and Raby Castle to John Bazire and Peter Smart "for the use of the said Lord Barnard and his heirs forever."[4]

As such, William took a lawsuit over the inheritance to the House of Lords, and during this time Christopher and his wife lived at Raby Castle.[1]

[edit] Later Years

When his son Gilbert married Mary Randyll, Elizabeth started a fight with this daughter-in-law, which forced Christopher and Elizabeth to move back to Fairlawn.[3] In 1712, Christopher hired John Proud, the steward of Raby Castle, to hire 200 workmen to strip the castle.[4][5] Owen Stanley Scott described that the castle was stripped:

"of its lead, glass, doors, and furniture, even pulling up the floors, cutting down the timber, and destroying the deer, and 'of a sudden in three days' did damage to the tune of £3000, holding a sale at which the household goods, lead, etc., were sold for what they would fetch"[6]

In response, Gilbert sued Christopher for the damages to the castle in the case Vane vs. Lord Barnard 1716.[5]

He died October 28, 1723, aged 70 at Shipbourne, Kent and was buried in the parish church.[4] The reason for Christopher Smart receiving so much money has been seen as some critics a sign that the future poet was "the pride of Fairlawn."[7] Others cynically disagree but have not offered explanations as to the generousity of Christopher Vane towards his young namesake.[8]

However, Christopher Smart never received this money, as it was forever tied up and lost in a court battle.[9] In response to this lost, Henry Vane, 1st Earl of Darlington, Christopher's grandson through Gilbert, took the young Christopher Smart in at Raby Castle and paid for his education at Durham School.[9]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Mounsey p. 23
  2. ^ Sherbo p. 3
  3. ^ a b Mounsey p. 24
  4. ^ a b c Sherbo p. 4
  5. ^ a b Mounsey p. 25
  6. ^ Scott p. 82
  7. ^ Sherbo p. 6
  8. ^ Mounsey p. 27
  9. ^ a b Mounsey p. 28

[edit] References

  • Mounsey, Chris. Christopher Smart: Clown of God. London: Bucknell University Press, 2001.
  • Scott, Owen Stanley. Raby: its Castle and its Lords. Barnard Castle: Harry Ward, 1915.
  • Sherbo, Arthur. Christopher Smart: Scholar of the University. Michigan State University Press, 1967.


Peerage of England
Preceded by
New creation		 Baron Barnard Succeeded by
Gilbert Vane