Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Vane the Elder was born on 18 February 1589 at Hadlow, Kent, England. He was the son of Henry Fane and Margaret Twysden. He married Frances D'Arcy, daughter of Thomas D'Arcy and Camilla Guicciardini, in 1612. He died in 1654.
He was given the name of Henry Fane at birth. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. He was admitted to Gray's Inn. He was invested as a Knight in 1611. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Lostwithiel in 1614. He sold Hadlow and bought Fairlawn, Kent (where he and his descendants lived for the next century), plus Raby Castle, County Durham. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Carlisle between 1621 and 1626. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Retford in 1628. He held the office of Comptroller of the Household in 1629. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1630. He held the office of Ambassador to King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1631. He was Commissioner of the Admiralty in 1632. He was Commissioner to the Colonies in 1636. He held the office of Treasurer of the Household in 1639. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Wilton in 1640. He held the office of Secretary of State from 1640 to 1641. In 1641 he was dismissed from all of his royal posts, whereupon he sided with the Parliamentarians. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Kent in 1653.