Vere Fane, 14th Earl of Westmorland

Lieutenant-Commander Vere Anthony Francis Fane, 14th Earl of Westmorland (25 March 1893 – 12 May 1948), styled Lord Burghersh until 1922, was a British peer.

Styled Lord Burghersh from birth, he was the eldest son of Anthony Fane, 13th Earl of Westmorland, by Lady Sybil Mary, daughter of Robert St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn. He served in the Royal Navy during the First World War and was present at the Battle of Jutland aboard The Lion, Lord Beatty's flagship.^[1] Noted as a "sporting peer", he succeeded his father in the earldom in 1922, when he began his association with horse racing. Having always been a keen rider to hounds he now raced as an amateur both on the flat and under National Hunt rules. He also owned and trained race horses, having a particularly successful season in 1923 when he trained 23 winners. In 1924 Royal Chancellor won him the Scottish Grand National.

Having visited America to study business methods he began a business career in 1929 and was elected to the boards of two energy companies. He retired from training in 1931 but continued his sporting interests, which included hunting, boxing, shooting and in his later years golf: he was also on the board of Arsenal Football Club.

Lord Westmorland married the Honourable Diana, daughter of Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale and widow of Arthur Capel, in 1923. They had two sons, of whom the elder, David, succeeded him; the younger son was the author Julian Fane.^[1] Lord Westmorland died at his home near Badminton, Gloucestershire, on May 12, 1948, aged 55, after an illness of some three months. He was described in his obituary as being "of handsome appearance and impressive deportment".^[2] The Countess of Westmorland died in December 1983, aged 90.^[1]

References

1. thepeerage.com Lt.-Cdr. Vere Anthony Francis St. Clair Fane, 14th Earl of Westmorland
2. The Times, Thursday, May 13, 1948; pg. 7; Issue 51070; col E. Obituary: Earl of Westmorland, a Keen Sportsman