Ralph Verney, 2nd Earl Verney PC, FRS (1 February 1714 – 31 March 1791), styled Viscount Fermanagh between 1743 and 1752, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1753 and 1791.

Claydon House

Background

A member of the Verney family, Lord Verney was the son of Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney, of Claydon House, Buckinghamshire, and Catherine, daughter of Henry Paschall.[1]

Political career

Verney succeeded his father in the earldom in 1752. However, as this was an Irish peerage, it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords (although it did entitle him to a seat in the Irish House of Lords). He was instead elected to the House of Commons for Wendover in 1753, a seat he held until 1761.[1][2] He later represented Carmarthen between 1761 and 1768[1][3] and Buckinghamshire between 1768 and 1784 and 1790 and 1791.[1][4] In 1765 he was sworn of the Privy Council.[1][5]

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1758.

Claydon House

He rebuilt Claydon House in Buckinghamshire between 1757 and 1771. The house today represents only the west wing, which was originally connected to an identical east wing by a colonnaded rotunda surmounted by a cupola. Cost overruns on the building meant that Lord Verney had to spend the final years of his life on the continent to escape his creditors.

Family

Lord Verney married Mary, daughter of Henry Herring, in 1740. They had no children before her death in January 1791, aged 74. Lord Verney only survived her by two months and died in March of the same year, aged 77. On his death all his titles became extinct.[1] His estate was inherited by his niece Mary Verney (later created Baroness Fermanagh, in the second creation), who reduced Clayton House to its present size.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Lundy, Darryl. "p. 2981 § 29805". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.[unreliable source]
  2. ^ "leighrayment.com". leighrayment.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  3. ^ "leighrayment.com". leighrayment.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  4. ^ "leighrayment.com". leighrayment.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  5. ^ "leighrayment.com". leighrayment.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
Parliament of Great Britain Preceded byJohn Hampden The Earl Verney Member of Parliament for Wendover 1753–1761 With: John Hampden 1753–1754John Calvert 1754–1761 Succeeded byRichard Chandler-Cavendish Verney Lovett Preceded byGriffith Philipps Member of Parliament for Carmarthen 1761–1768 Succeeded byGriffith Philipps Preceded byRichard Lowndes Sir William Stanhope Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire 1768–1784 With: Richard Lowndes 1768–1774George Grenville 1774–1779Thomas Grenville 1779–1784 Succeeded byWilliam Grenville Sir John Aubrey, Bt Preceded byWilliam Grenville Sir John Aubrey, Bt Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire 1790–1791 With: William Grenville 1790James Grenville 1790–1791 Succeeded byJames Grenville The Marquess of Titchfield Peerage of Ireland Preceded byRalph Verney Earl Verney 1752–1791 Succeeded byExtinct
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