VENABLES VERNON, George (1709-80), of Sudbury, Derbys. and Kinderton, Cheshire

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

20 May 1731 - 1747
1754 - Apr. 1762

Family and Education

b. 9 Feb. 1709,1 o. surv. s. of Henry Vernon, M.P., of Sudbury by his 1st w. Anne, da. and h. of Thomas Pigot of Chetwynd, Salop, niece and h. of Sir Peter Venables of Kinderton.  m. (1) 22 June 1733, Hon. Mary Howard (d. Feb. 1740), da. and coh. of Thomas, 6th Baron Howard of Effingham, 3s. 2da.; (2) 22 Dec. 1741, Anne (d. 22 Sept. 1742), da. of Sir Thomas Lee, 3rd Bt., M.P., of Hartwell, Bucks.; (3) 10 Apr. 1744, Hon. Martha Harcourt, da. of Simon, 1st Visct. Harcourt, 3s. 4da.  suc. to Kinderton 28 Apr. 1715, and assumed name of Venables before Vernon; suc. fa. 1719; cr. Baron Vernon of Kinderton 12 May 1762.

Offices Held

Biography

Vernon began in politics as a Tory, but by 1754 was a supporter of Administration. At the general election he was returned unopposed for Derby together with Lord Frederick Cavendish, strongly supported by the Duke of Devonshire; and in January 1756 told Lord George Cavendish that he ‘was resolved not to take part in anything of consequence’ until he knew Devonshire’s opinion.2 On 20 Mar. 1760 he applied to Newcastle for a peerage,3 referring to

the kind assurance I have formerly had from your Grace and Mr. Pelham, by whose advice I came into Parliament again with that view, and being recommended to his Majesty’s favour the very first opportunity ... I am sure the Duke of Devonshire will answer for my principles and pardon my saying that I think I have been of service, and may be of greater, as my interest in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Sussex are not inconsiderable, and his Majesty’s favour will strengthen them.

Newcastle wrote in his ‘Memorandums for the King’, 25 Mar. 1760:4 ‘Demands come in every day for peerages. Lord Irwin, Lord Clanricarde, Mr. Vernon etc. To get the King to do it yet.’ He did not succeed. In October 1761 Vernon received Newcastle’s parliamentary whip through Devonshire, and was classed as his follower in Bute’s list; but most probably obtained his peerage through Harcourt and Bute. When the promise of a peerage had been obtained, he vacated his seat.

He died 21 Aug. 1780.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

  • 1. Three dates are given for the year of his birth: 1707-8 (CP ); 1709 (Collins); 1709-10 (Ormerod, Cheshire, iii. 200). 9 Feb. 1709 seems most likely.
  • 2. Lord G. Cavendish to Devonshire, 20 Jan. 1756, Devonshire mss.
  • 3. Add. 32903, f. 412.
  • 4. Add. 32904, f. 15.