John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland

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General John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland GCB PC (2 February 178416 October 1859) was a British soldier and diplomat.

He was the son of the 10th Earl of Westmorland and the heiress Sarah Anne Child, daughter of the wealthy banker Sir Robert Child, builder of Osterley Park. He succeeded his father as Earl in 1841.

He married Priscilla Pole-Wellesley on 26 June 1811, daughter of William Pole-Wellesley 3rd Earl of Mornington

Lord Burghersh, as he then was, was commissioned Ensign in the 11th Foot without purchase in 1803. In 1804 he transferred to the 7th Foot as a Lieutenant and in 1806 he transferred to the 23rd Foot as a Captain. He later transferred to the 2nd West India Regiment. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army in 1809 and then transferred to the 91st Foot. In 1811 he exchanged back into the 7th Foot and later the same year purchased the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 63rd Foot. In 1814 he was promoted Colonel in the Army. He was promoted Major-General in 1838 and General in 1854. He was appointed Colonel of the 56th Foot in 1842.

He served as minister plenipotentary in Florence, 1814–30, resident minister at Berlin, 1841–51; and minister at Vienna 1851–1855. Composer and a founder (while still Lord Burghersh) of the Royal Academy of Music, the Earl of Westmorland was a great music lover who devoted most of his leisure hours to the study of music, was a good violinist and a prolific composer: this fact helped to improve the standing of the musical profession in England. Like many aristocrats, however, he regarded Italy as the only source of good music.

His sister was the well known social hostess Sarah Villiers, Countess of Jersey.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
The Viscount Ponsonby
British Ambassador to Austria
1851–1855
Succeeded by
Sir Hamilton Seymour
Peerage of England
Preceded by
John Fane
Earl of Westmorland
1841–1859
Succeeded by
Francis Fane