Background
Robert John Verney was born Robert John Barnard on October 7, 1809, the eldest son of Reverend John Barnard (1760–1834), and Louisa Verney, daughter of John Peyto-Verney, 14th Baron Willoughby de Broke, inheriting the title 17th Baron Willoughby de Broke and 25th Baron Latimer on the death of his uncle Henry Peyto-Verney, 16th Baron Willoughby de Broke in 1852.
