John Verney, 1st Viscount Fermanagh, known as Sir John Verney, 2nd Baronet between 1696 and 1703, was an English peer, merchant and Tory 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 Blois for the following five years.
Career
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.
Verney was several years assistant to the Royal African Company 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.
After her death in 1686, Verney remarried Mary Lawley, daughter of Sir Francis Lawley, 2nd Baronet on 10 July 1692 in the same church. 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.
Membership
3rd Parliament of Great Britain. 4th Parliament of Great Britain. 5th Parliament of Great Britain.