Fane, John, seventh Earl of Westmorland 1682?-1762, third son of Vere Fane, the fourth earl, educated at Oxford, followed a military life in his youth, and was made captain of horse in March 1708-9. He distinguished himself under the Duke of Marlborough, and became lieutenant-colonel in 1710, colonel of the 37th regiment of foot 1715, captain and colonel of the first troop of grenadier guards 1717, and captain and colonel of the first troop of horse guards in 1733. On 4 Oct. 1733 he was created a peer of Ireland, with the title of Lord Catherlough, baron of Catherlough. He was elected to parliament for Hythe in Kent in 1708, but at the next election (1710) was declared not duly elected. In 1715, on the death of his brother, Mildmay, he was chosen knight of the shire of Kent. He was elected to parliament in 1726-7, and again in 1727, for Buckingham. He succeeded to the earldom of Westmorland in 1736. In the following year he was appointed warden and joint chief ranger of the east bailiwick in Rockingham Forest, but resigned his command of the horse guards. In 1742, having been declared brigadier-general on 25 Nov. 1735, he was made major-general (commission antedated 16 Nov. 1735) and lieutenant-general.
     Soon after his accession to the earldom he retired to his seat, Mereworth Castle in Kent, and gave himself up to the improvement of his property, rebuilding the castle after plans by Palladio (H. Walpole, Letters, Cunningham, iii. 303). In 1754 he was appointed lord high steward, and in 1759 chancellor, of the university of Oxford, his installation being conducted with unusual magnificence. He married Mary, only daughter and heiress of Lord Henry Cavendish, but died without issue 26 Aug. 1762, over the age of eighty.
     He was succeeded as eighth earl by Thomas Fane, great-grandson of Sir Francis, and great-great-grandson of Francis, first earl [see under Fane, Sir Thomas]. The eighth earl died in 1771, and was succeeded as ninth earl by his son John Fane 1728-1774. He was born 5 May 1728, was educated at Westminster, became M.P. for Lyme Regis in 1762 and 1761. He married (1) in 1758 Augusta, daughter of Lord Montague Bertie (she died in 1776), and (2) in 1767 Lady Susan, daughter of Cosmo George Gordon, third duke of Gordon. He died 26 April 1774.

Sources:
     Hasted's Kent, ii. 267
     Collins's Peerage (1812), iii. 296
     H. Walpole's Letters, Cunningham, index
     Gent. Mag. xxxii. 391
     Doyle's Official Baronage, iii. 641 (where date of baptism is given as March 1785)
     Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ix. 242.

Contributor: R. B. [Ronald Bayne]

Published: 1888