Herbert Lionel Henry Vane-Tempest
Lord Herbert Lionel Henry Vane-Tempest KCVO (6 July 1862 – 26 January 1921) was a British company director. He was a director of the Cambrian Railways and died in the Abermule train collision in January 1921.
Life
Vane-Tempest was the son of George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry and his wife Mary Cornelia Edwards, and brother of Charles Vane-Tempest the 6th. Marquess. He was born on 6 July 1862.[1] Vane-Tempest was a Justice of the Peace of both Montgomeryshire and Merionethshire He was awarded the Royal Officers' Decoration and was appointed Knight Commander, Royal Victorian Order. He was a Major and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in the Durham Artillery Militia.[1]
In 1905, Vane-Tempest became a director of the Cambrian Railways.[2] The following year, he inherited Plas Machynlleth and a considerable fortune from his mother, Mary.[3] In 1910, has was appointed the High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire.[1] Also in 1910 he became a director of a new company set up to revive the moribund Mawddwy Railway.[4]
On 26 January 1921, Vane-Tempest joined the east-bound express train from Aberystwyth at Machynlleth. Just before noon, the train was approaching Abermule where it was due to cross the west-bound stopping train from Whitchurch, Shropshire. Due to a failure by the staff at Abermule, the train from Whitchurch was allowed to proceed westward while the express train was approaching the station. The two trains collided west of Abermule station. Seventeen people were killed, including Herbert Vane-Tempest.
Winston Churchill was Vane-Tempest's first cousin once removed and inherited several thousand pounds as his heir, as Vane-Tempest died a bachelor. Churchill was able to put this inheritance towards the purchase of Chartwell.[5]
References
- Mosley, Charles (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (107th ed.). Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd.
- Johnson, Peter (2013). The Cambrian Railways - a new history. Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 978 0 86093 644 2.
- "Court and Society". Belfast News-Letter. 1 February 1921.
- Christiansen, Rex; Miller, R. W. (1968). The Cambrian Railways 1889-1968. 2. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.
- Manchester, William (1983). The Last Lion: Winston Churchill: Visions of Glory, 1874-1932. 1. London: Michael Joseph Ltd.