May 21, 1771

Christopher Vane, (May 21, 1653 to October 28, 1723), Lord Barnard, was an English peer. His father had been beheaded by Charles II, apparently because the father would not retract some anti monarchical sentiments. Christopher Vane and his wife Elizabeth had two children reach adulthood and in both cases they engaged in ferocious disputes with their own offspring. Raby Castle, one of their estates, in Durham, was wrecked rather than have it relinquished to their own son's family. Here is an eye-witness account of the damage done, on the orders of Lord Barnard, to Raby Castle:

"of its lead, glass, doors, and furniture, even pulling up the floors, cutting down the timber, and destroying the deer, and 'of a sudden in three days' did damage to the tune of £3000, holding a sale at which the household goods, lead, etc., were sold for what they would fetch"

Makes you wonder if this destruction is evidence of some genetic toughness that refuses to surrender. At least Henry Vane, Christopher's father, could have said he acted on a moral principle, had he not lost his head.

Enough background  Our Lord Barnard had a steward named Peter Smart on one of his estates. In Lord Barnard's will he left Peter Smart an annuity, and Peter Smart's children, each, some money. His litigious proclivities meant though, that this money was tied up in law suits and ultimately lost to the intended recipients.

One of Peter Smart's children was Christopher Smart (April 11, 1722 to May 21, 1771). Smart's poem, Jubilate Agno, contains some of the most beautiful poetry ever devoted to felines. Christopher's cat was named Jeoffrey, and Smart wrote:

For I will consider my cat Jeoffrey

...

For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way

For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness....

One may wonder whether had Christopher Smart received the money Lord Barnard intended for him, he would have died in debtor's prison.