Sir Henry Vane (1613 - 1662) — Discovering an extraordinary life and legacy

In the vestibule of Boston Public Library is a single sculpture of 17th century English parliamentarian, Sir Henry Vane. Sculpted by Frederick William MacMonnies (1863-1937), this artwork was gifted to the Library in 1897 by Brookline doctor, Charles G. Weld, presented in honor of James Freeman Clarke, the American theologian, abolitionist, and a BPL trustee. But why was this little-known figure chosen as the subject of such a prominent piece of art in one of Boston’s best loved buildings?

This program will happen online over Zoom webinar. Please register here.

In 1662 Sir Henry Vane was executed at Tower Hill, London, described by the newly crowned King Charles II as “too dangerous to let live”. Almost forgotten in his native England, Vane is a tantalizing and complex character; idealist, family man, religious radical, parliamentarian and statesman all in one.

As a young man, Vane followed his Puritan convictions to Massachusetts Bay, briefly serving as Governor in 1636, a role for which he was woefully ill-equipped, but during which time which he developed friendships with the Cottons, Hutchinsons, Dyers and Roger Williams who later described him as “an Instrument of God” for procuring and confirming the Rhode Island Charter. Although an opponent during the 1630s, John Winthrop would later describe him as a “true friend of New England”, a quotation that is referenced on the sculpture’s dedication plaque. On returning home, Henry rose to prominence alongside Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians, a cause for which he would eventually lose his life.

Today, Vane is remembered at his family home, Raby Castle (still owned by the Vane family), whose curator Julie Biddlecombe-Brown has been trying to piece together his story from his writings, family papers and various biographies, all of which capture an aspect of the man, but struggle to present the full picture. In this short talk, specially written for the Boston Public Library, Julie aims to piece together aspects of Henry’s life and explores a complex legacy that sees him commemorated on the Boston sculpture as “an Ardent Defender of Civil Liberty and Free Thought in Religion”.

About the presenter

Julie Biddlecombe-Brown is an experienced curator who heads up the Curation and Archives team atRaby Castle on behalf of the current owners, Lord and Lady Barnard. She previously worked as Curator of Exhibitions at Durham University where she first began looking at the links between New England and the north-east of England in 2016 as part of a project team telling the story of indentured Scottish prisoners who were sent to Massachusetts Bay in 1650. Since moving to Raby Castle in 2019, Julie and her team have been getting to grips with a site with almost 1,000 years of history; over 15,000 historic items and 2,500 feet of archives, a process that uncovers stories that demonstrate that the castle might have roots firmly planted in England but its branches spread across the globe.

Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact the Adult Programs Department at [email protected] or 617-859-2129. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Cover media information: Statue of Sir Henry Vane (1612-1662), governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636 and 1637, by Frederick William MacMonnies (1863-1937)

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