George Venables-Vernon, 2nd Baron Vernon

George Venables-Vernon, 2nd Baron Vernon (9 May 1735 – 18 June 1813), was the 2nd Baron Vernon of Kinderton. He acceded to the title in 1780 after the death of his father George Venables-Vernon, first Baron Vernon of Kinderton.

George Venables-Vernon

Early life edit

 
Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire

He was the only son of George Venables-Vernon, 1st Baron Vernon and, his first wife, Hon. Mary Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 6th Baron Howard of Effingham. His paternal grandparents were Henry Vernon, MP for Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme, and the former Anne Pigott (daughter and heiress of Thomas Pigott of Chetwynd).[1]

Vernon was educated at Westminster School and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, proceeding MA in 1755.[2]

Career edit

He served as a Whig member of parliament for Weobley from 1757 to 1761, Bramber from 1762 to 1768 and Glamorganshire from 1768 to 1780. "Only one speech by him is reported: 1 May 1769, on a point of privilege."[3]

Through his first wife, he inherited the Briton Ferry estate in Glamorgan and Newick Park in Sussex in 1750 and served as vice president of the Welch Charity. He inherited the family seat at Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire in 1780 on the death of his father. Bradwall Hall, near Sandbach, Cheshire, was also owned by the Barons Vernon until it was conveyed to John Latham, president of the Royal College of Physicians.

Personal life edit

 
Portrait of his first wife, Hon. Louisa Barbara Mansel, by Thomas Gainsborough, between 1763 and 1767
 
Portrait of his second wife, Jane Georgiana Fauquier, by John Hoppner, between 1785 and 1800

His first wife was Hon. Louisa Barbara Mansel, daughter of Bussy Mansel, last Baron Mansel of Margam. They wed on 16 July 1757 and had two sons and two daughters, who died young, including:[3]

  • George Venables-Vernon (1761–1763), who died young and was buried at Newick.[4]
  • George Venables-Vernon (1773–1773), who died in infancy and was also buried at Newick.[4]

He married secondly, Jane Georgiana Fauquier, daughter of William Fauquier of Hanover, on 25 May 1786. With her he had two more daughters, one of whom died young, including:[3]

After Vernon died in 1813, his title passed to his half-brother Henry, the eldest son of the first Baron's third marriage.[3]

Legacy edit

His full-length portrait was painted by Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788) in 1767. The painting, which is often referred to as "The Hunting Lord," belongs to Southampton City Art Gallery's permanent collection, acquired 1957.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Brooke, John. "VENABLES VERNON, George (1709-80), of Sudbury, Derbys. and Kinderton, Cheshire". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Vernon, George Venables (VNN753GV)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ a b c d e "VENABLES VERNON, George (1735-1813), of Briton Ferry, Glam. and Newick Park, Suss". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Cokayne, George Edward (1898). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, Or Dormant. G. Bell & Sons. pp. 27–28. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  5. ^ "George Venables Vernon (1735–1813)". artuk.org. Art UK. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Weobley
1757–1761
With: John Craster
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Bramber
1762–1768
With: The Lord Winterton
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Glamorganshire
1768–1780
Succeeded by
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by Baron Vernon
1780–1813
Succeeded by
Henry Venables-Vernon