Vane, Sir Henry

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Vane, Sir Henry (1613–62) English statesman. A Puritan, he was briefly governor (1636–37) of Massachusetts, before returning to domestic politics. A proponent of the abolition of episcopacy in the Long Parliament, Charles I dismissed Vane. During the English Civil War, he secured the Solemn League and Covenant (1643) with Scotland. Vane negotiated with Charles I and opposed the King's execution. He was a member of the Commonwealth council of state, but fell out with Oliver Cromwell. After the Restoration (1660), Vane was convicted of treason and executed.

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