John Verney, 1st Viscount Fermanagh
Encyclopedia
John Verney, 1st Viscount Fermanagh (5 November 1640 – 23 June 1717), known as Sir John Verney, 2nd Baronet between 1696 and 1703, was an English
peer, merchant and Tory
politician.
for the following five years. After the family's return to England, he joined James Fleetwood
's school at Barn Elms
and in 1655 went to another school in Kensington. Thereafter Verney worked for a levant merchant, making expeditions to Mesopotamia
and Cyprus
. In 1696, he succeeded his father as baronet.
and served as governor of Bethlem Royal Hospital
. He contested Buckingham
in the elections of 1696, 1698 and 1701; each time unsuccessfully. On 16 June 1703, Verney was created Viscount of the County of Fermanagh along with the subsidiary title Baron Verney of Belturbet, in the County of Cavan
. Both titles were in the Peerage of Ireland
and hence don't prevented him to enter the British House of Commons
finally in 1710, sitting for Buckinghamshire
until 1715. Subsequently he represented Amersham
until his death in 1717.
, and had by her a son and three daughters. After her death in 1686, Verney remarried Mary Lawley, daughter of Sir Francis Lawley, 2nd Baronet
on 10 July 1692 in the same church. She died in childbed only two years later and their newborn son shortly thereafter. Verney married thirdly Elizabeth Baker, daughter of his neighbour Daniel Baker, on 8 April 1696 at Kensington
. He died aged 76 and was buried in Middle Claydon
in Buckinghamshire
a week later. Verney was succeeded in his titles by his only surviving son Ralph
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
peer, merchant and Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
politician.
Background
He was the second and only surviving son of Sir Ralph Verney, 1st Baronet and his wife Mary Blacknall, daughter of John Blacknall. Accompanying his father into his French exile, Verney, aged eight, was educated at BloisBlois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
for the following five years. After the family's return to England, he joined James Fleetwood
James Fleetwood
James Fleetwood was an English clergyman and Bishop of Worcester.-Life:...
's school at Barn Elms
Barn Elms
Barn Elms is an open space in Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.It is located on the northerly loop of the River Thames between Barnes and Fulham....
and in 1655 went to another school in Kensington. Thereafter Verney worked for a levant merchant, making expeditions to Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. In 1696, he succeeded his father as baronet.
Career
Verney was several years assistant to the Royal African CompanyRoyal African Company
The Royal African Company was a slaving company set up by the Stuart family and London merchants once the former retook the English throne in the English Restoration of 1660...
and served as governor of Bethlem Royal Hospital
Bethlem Royal Hospital
The Bethlem Royal Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located in London, United Kingdom and part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Although no longer based at its original location, it is recognised as the world's first and oldest institution to specialise in mental illnesses....
. He contested Buckingham
Buckingham (UK Parliament constituency)
Buckingham is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in the elections of 1696, 1698 and 1701; each time unsuccessfully. On 16 June 1703, Verney was created Viscount of the County of Fermanagh along with the subsidiary title Baron Verney of Belturbet, in the County of Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
. Both titles were in the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
and hence don't prevented him to enter the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
finally in 1710, sitting for Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Buckinghamshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885.Its most prominent member was...
until 1715. Subsequently he represented Amersham
Amersham (UK Parliament constituency)
Amersham, often spelt as Agmondesham, was a constituency of the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and finally in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
until his death in 1717.
Family
On 27 May 1680, he married firstly Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of Ralph Palmer, at Westminster AbbeyWestminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, and had by her a son and three daughters. After her death in 1686, Verney remarried Mary Lawley, daughter of Sir Francis Lawley, 2nd Baronet
Sir Francis Lawley, 2nd Baronet
Sir Francis Lawley, 2nd Baronet was a politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1679 and a courtier.Lawley was the son of Sir Thomas Lawley, 1st Baronet of Spoonhill, near Much Wenlock, Shropshire. He inherited the Baronetcy and the estate on the death of his father in 1646...
on 10 July 1692 in the same church. She died in childbed only two years later and their newborn son shortly thereafter. Verney married thirdly Elizabeth Baker, daughter of his neighbour Daniel Baker, on 8 April 1696 at Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
. He died aged 76 and was buried in Middle Claydon
Middle Claydon
Middle Claydon is a village and also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located about five miles south of Buckingham and three miles west of Winslow....
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
a week later. Verney was succeeded in his titles by his only surviving son Ralph
Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney
Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney , styled The Honourable from 1703 to 1717 and subsequently known as The Viscount Fermanagh until 1742, was an Irish peer and Tory politician.-Background:...
.