Harry George Powlett, 4th Duke of Cleveland Knight of the Order of the Garter, styled The Honourable Harry Vane until 1827 and Lord Harry Vane from 1827 to 1864, who in 1864 adopted by Royal Licence the surname and arms of Powlett in lieu of Vane, was an English landowner, diplomat and Whig statesman.
Background
Vane was the third son of William Vane, 1st Duke of Cleveland Knight of the Order of the Garter (1766–1842), by his wife Lady Catherine Margaret Powlett, daughter of Admiral Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton (1720–1794). His elder brothers were Henry Vane, 2nd Duke of Cleveland Knight of the Order of the Garter (1788–1864), and William Vane, 3rd Duke of Cleveland (1792–1864).
Education
Vane was educated at Oriel College, Oxford.
Career
During the crisis which led to the collapse of Lord Russell"s government in 1866 over the question of parliamentary reform, he was considered a possible compromise Prime Minister in a Whig-Conservative anti-reform coalition government, but such plans came to nothing. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1865. During the crisis which led to the collapse in 1866 of Lord Russell"s second ministry over the question of parliamentary reform, he was considered a possible compromise Prime Minister in a Whig-Conservative anti-reform coalition government, but such plans came to nothing.
Although Cleveland had no legitimate progeny, he produced an illegitimate daughter by his mistress Mary Ann Raby.
The daughter was called Charlotte (Lottie) Raby (1841–1919) and took the surname Raby so her parentage was not discovered. Cleveland died in August 1891, aged 88, at his London townhouse Cleveland House, 16 Street James"s Square, Westminster, London.
Thereupon the line of succession to his peerages became unclear. In 1891 the Committee of Privileges of the House of Lords declared the title of Duke of Cleveland extinct but declared Henry de Vere Vane to be the rightful heir of the title Baron Barnard and to the estates of Raby Castle and Barnard Castle, which latter had been purchased in 1626 by the Vane family.
Membership
14th United Kingdom Parliament. 15th United Kingdom Parliament. 16th United Kingdom Parliament.
17th United Kingdom Parliament.
18th United Kingdom Parliament.