John Verney
Encyclopedia
Sir John Verney, KC, PC (23 October 1699 – 5 August 1741) was a British
barrister, judge and politician. He was born in Brasted
, Kent
on 23 October 1699 to George Verney
, 12th Baron Willoughby de Broke
. In 1714 he matriculated to New College, Oxford
, and became a student of the Middle Temple
the following year. He was called to the Bar
in 1721, and in an attempt to gain contacts for his work as a barrister
he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Downton
with the help of his brother-in-law, Anthony Duncombe in 1722. On 16 September 1724 he married Abigail, the daughter of Sir Edward Harley
, the younger brother of Queen Anne's Tory minister, Robert Harley, created Earl of Oxford.
Verney sat in Parliament as a Tory
, speaking out against the Whig Prime Minister Robert Walpole
. In 1726 he switched sides, however, and Walpole made him a judge in Wales as a reward. In 1727 he became a King's Counsel, and in 1728 a Bencher at Lincoln's Inn
, having switched Inns some time earlier. In the 1727 election he campaigned in Radnor
, but lost and was again returned for Downton.
In May 1729 he was made Attorney General to the Queen Consort
, Queen Caroline
. He resigned from his Welsh post in 1732 due to ill-health, but in 1732 accepted an appointment as Chief Justice of Cheshire
. After the death of Sir Joseph Jekyll
on 19 August 1738, Verney applied to succeed him as Master of the Rolls
, and was accepted after the position was turned down by Sir John Strange
. He took office on 9 October 1738, and was sworn in on 12 October. After a few years, his ill-health made it impossible to continue as Master of the Rolls, and he offered his resignation to the Lord Chancellor
in early 1741.
In May 1741 he was again elected for Downton, but he died on 5 August. As his older brother had no children, Verney's eldest son, John
, succeeded him as Baron Willoughby de Broke
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
barrister, judge and politician. He was born in Brasted
Brasted
Brasted is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish is located to the west of Sevenoaks town. The parish includes the settlements of Brasted Chart and Toys Hill, and had a population of 1321 persons . The single slightly winding street of the village has a...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
on 23 October 1699 to George Verney
George Verney, 12th Baron Willoughby de Broke
George Verney, 12th Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 20th Baron Latimer was a peer in the English peerage.George Verney was born on October 13, 1659, the second son of Richard Verney, 11th Baron Willoughby de Broke , and Mary Pretyman, daughter of Sir John Pretyman, at the Verney family seat...
, 12th Baron Willoughby de Broke
Baron Willoughby de Broke
Baron Willoughby de Broke is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by writ in 1491 for Sir Robert Willoughby, of Brooke/Broke manor, Heywood, near Westbury, Wiltshire, de jure 9th Baron Latimer...
. In 1714 he matriculated to New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, and became a student of the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
the following year. He was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1721, and in an attempt to gain contacts for his work as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Downton
Downton (UK Parliament constituency)
Downton was a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
with the help of his brother-in-law, Anthony Duncombe in 1722. On 16 September 1724 he married Abigail, the daughter of Sir Edward Harley
Edward Harley (1664–1735)
Edward Harley , of Eywood, Titley, Herefordshire, Auditor of the Imprests was the second son of Edward Harley and younger brother of Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. He married Sarah Foley, third daughter of Thomas Foley...
, the younger brother of Queen Anne's Tory minister, Robert Harley, created Earl of Oxford.
Verney sat in Parliament as a Tory
Tories (political faction)
The Tories were members of two political parties which existed, sequentially, in the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of Great Britain and later the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from the 17th to the early 19th centuries.-Overview:...
, speaking out against the Whig Prime Minister Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, KG, KB, PC , known before 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole, was a British statesman who is generally regarded as having been the first Prime Minister of Great Britain....
. In 1726 he switched sides, however, and Walpole made him a judge in Wales as a reward. In 1727 he became a King's Counsel, and in 1728 a Bencher at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, having switched Inns some time earlier. In the 1727 election he campaigned in Radnor
Radnor (UK Parliament constituency)
Radnor or New Radnor was a constituency in Wales between 1542 and 1885; it elected one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliaments of England , Great Britain and the United Kingdom , by the first past the post electoral...
, but lost and was again returned for Downton.
In May 1729 he was made Attorney General to the Queen Consort
Law Officers of the Crown
The Law Officers of the Crown are the chief legal advisers to the Crown, and advise and represent the various governments in the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms. In England and Wales, Northern Ireland and most Commonwealth and colonial governments, the chief law officer of the...
, Queen Caroline
Caroline of Ansbach
Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach was the queen consort of King George II of Great Britain.Her father, John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, was the ruler of a small German state...
. He resigned from his Welsh post in 1732 due to ill-health, but in 1732 accepted an appointment as Chief Justice of Cheshire
Justice of Chester
The Justice of Chester was the chief judicial authority for the County Palatine of Chester, from the establishment of the county until the abolition of the Great Sessions in Wales and the palatine judicature in 1830....
. After the death of Sir Joseph Jekyll
Joseph Jekyll
Sir Joseph Jekyll KS was a British barrister, politician and judge. Born to John Jekyll, he initially attended a seminary before joining the Middle Temple in 1680. Thanks to his association with Lord Somers Jekyll advanced rapidly, becoming Chief Justice of Chester in 1697 and a King's Serjeant in...
on 19 August 1738, Verney applied to succeed him as Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
, and was accepted after the position was turned down by Sir John Strange
John Strange (English politician)
Sir John Strange KC PC was a British politician and judge. He was born to another John Strange and his second wife, Mary Plaistowe. He became a student at the Middle Temple on 11 July 1712 before starting a pupillage at the chambers of Charles Salkeld, who trained Lord Hardwicke. He was called to...
. He took office on 9 October 1738, and was sworn in on 12 October. After a few years, his ill-health made it impossible to continue as Master of the Rolls, and he offered his resignation to the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
in early 1741.
In May 1741 he was again elected for Downton, but he died on 5 August. As his older brother had no children, Verney's eldest son, John
John Peyto-Verney, 14th Baron Willoughby de Broke
John Peyto-Verney, 14th Baron Willoughby de Broke and de jure 22nd Baron Latimer was a peer in the peerage of England.John Peyto-Verney was born John Verney on 5 August 1738, the son of Sir John Verney , KC and Abigail Harley, inheriting the title 14th Baron Willoughby de Broke and 22nd Baron...
, succeeded him as Baron Willoughby de Broke
Baron Willoughby de Broke
Baron Willoughby de Broke is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created by writ in 1491 for Sir Robert Willoughby, of Brooke/Broke manor, Heywood, near Westbury, Wiltshire, de jure 9th Baron Latimer...
.