Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, 2nd Baronet

Sir Henry Vane-Tempest, 2nd Baronet (25 January 1771 – 1 August 1813), was a British politician. In early life his name was Henry Vane. He changed his name to Vane-Tempest when he inherited from his maternal uncle, John Tempest Jr., in 1793.

Early life He was the only son, and heir, of the former Frances Tempest and the Rev. Sir Henry Vane, 1st Baronet (1728–1794), the Prebendary of Durham. His maternal grandparents were Frances ( Shuttleworth) Tempest and John Tempest Sr., MP for City of Durham.

Career Vane was Member of Parliament (MP) for the City of Durham from 1794 to 1800, replacing his uncle John Tempest Jr., who died in a riding accident in 1793. Vane inherited the Tempest estates in County Durham (notably Wynyard and Brancepeth) upon condition he adopt the name and arms of Tempest. He therefore changed his surname to Vane-Tempest.

He accepted the Chiltern Hundreds in 1800 before returning to Parliament as representative for the County Durham from 1807 until his death from apoplexy in 1813. He was appointed High Sheriff of Antrim in 1805.

Vane-Tempest inherited his father's baronetcy in 1794. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Durham volunteer cavalry in early 1797.

Vane-Tempest was a renowned sportsman of his day, owning the celebrated racehorse Hambletonian. In a match with Mr. Cookson's Diamond over the Beacon Course at Newmarket in 1799, Hambletonian won by a neck, Sir Henry having wagered 3,000 guineas on the outcome. The aftermath is the subject of George Stubbs' painting "Hambletonian Rubbing Down", which is preserved at Mount Stewart.

Personal life

On 25 April 1799, by special licence, Vane-Tempest married Anne MacDonnell, 2nd Countess of Antrim, at her mother's house in Hanover Square. She was the eldest daughter of Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim, and the Hon. Letitia ( Morres) Trevor (widow of the Hon. Arthur Trevor and daughter of the 1st Viscount Mountmorres). His wife had inherited her father's peerages upon his death in 1791 under the special remainder of 1785, becoming suo jure Countess of Antrim and Viscountess Dunluce while the marquessate of Antrim became extinct. Together, they had one child:

Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest (1800–1865), who married Lord Charles Stewart (later Vane), the second son of Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry, and the first son by his second wife, Frances Pratt, in 1819.

Sir Henry died on 1 August 1813 and was buried at Long Newton. On Vane-Tempest's death without a male heir in 1813, the baronetcy became extinct. The surname Vane, however, was preserved as he had stipulated in his last will and testament that his daughter must keep her surname and her future husband must adopt hers in lieu of his own in order to inherit the extensive landholdings. This provision was complied with when Lady Frances married Lord Charles Stewart in 1819.