Vane
SIR HENRY, commonly called SIR HARRY VANE, an English statesman and writer; born in Hadlow, Kent, England, in 1612; eldest son of Sir Henry Vane, secretary of state.
He was educated at Westminster and Oxford, afterward completing his education at Geneva, where he became a Puritan and a republican. Returning to England, he found that his religious and political opinions exposed him to much ill will and annoyance, and he consequently emigrated to New England, arriving at Boston in 1635. He was VAN HORNE elected governor of Massachusetts in 1636. In 1637 he returned to England, after which he was knighted, entered Parliament, and became treasurer of the navy. He took part in the impeachment of Strafford, and was a zealous supporter of Parliament in the civil war and one of the leaders in the Long Parliament. He was also a supporter of the Solemn League and Covenant. He was averse to the execution of the king, and came into conflict with Cromwell in consequence of the forcible dissolution of the Long Parliament (1653). In 1656 he was imprisoned in Carisbrooke Castle for four months, by order of Cromwell, on account of a pamphlet he had written. On his release he continued to resolutely oppose the government of Cromwell and of his son Richard. In 1659 he was a member of the committee of safety and president of the council of state. After the Restoration he was sent to the Tower in February, 1660, February, 1660 and subsequently moved from prison to prison. A rising of the Fifth Monarchy party in January, 1661, led to increased severity toward him, and he was tried for high treason before the Court of King's Bench, June 2, 1662, condemned, and beheaded on Tower Hill on June 14.
He wrote various theological works characterized by excessive mysticism, and his religious views gave rise to a small circle of disciples known as Vanists.