James Vernon (politician, born 1646) facts for kids
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James Vernon (born around 1646, died around 1727) was an important English politician. He was a member of the Whig party. Vernon served in the English and later the British Parliament from 1679 to 1710. He held a very important job as Secretary of State for both the Northern and Southern Departments during the time of King William III.
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Early Life and Education
James Vernon was born into a family with roots in Cheshire and Worcestershire. His father was Francis Vernon of London. His mother was Anne Welby.
Like his older brother Francis, James went to Charterhouse School. This was a well-known school. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford starting in 1662 when he was 16. He earned his first degree in 1666 and a master's degree in 1669.
In 1675, James Vernon married Mary Buck. Her father was Sir John Buck.
Starting a Political Career
James Vernon began his career by gathering news in Holland in 1672. He then worked for important figures like Lord Halifax and the Duke of Monmouth. He left the Duke's service in 1678.
In 1679, Vernon became a Member of Parliament for Cambridge University. He also started working in the Secretary of State's office. One of his jobs was editing the London Gazette, which was like a government newspaper.
Later, he became a private secretary to Lord Shrewsbury. When Shrewsbury left, Vernon worked for Sir John Trenchard. He even traveled to Flanders in 1692 to report on army movements. From 1693 to 1705, he was also a commissioner for prizes, dealing with goods captured in wartime.
Becoming Secretary of State
In 1695, Vernon was elected as an MP for Penryn. When Lord Shrewsbury returned to power, Vernon continued to work closely with him. Because Shrewsbury was often ill, Vernon took on many important tasks. He helped investigate a plot against the king. He also managed to clear his name when others tried to blame him for political issues.
His skill in these matters led to him becoming Secretary of State in December 1697. He was also made a member of the Privy Council. This meant he was a key advisor to the king. He was responsible for both the Northern and Southern Departments for a time. In 1698, he was elected MP for Westminster.
As Secretary of State, King William III treated Vernon more like a helpful assistant than a top minister. Vernon was involved in important peace talks, like the Peace of Ryswick. He also helped with the partition treaty, which was about dividing lands in Europe. Even though he had some doubts about the treaty, he followed the king's orders. He managed to avoid being blamed when the treaty caused problems in Parliament. He continued to serve as Secretary of State.
Leaving Office and Later Life
James Vernon was a strong Whig. He was worried when the Duke of Gloucester died in 1700. He suggested that the king should marry again. He also proposed that the throne should go to the Hanoverian family if the king had no more children, skipping over Queen Anne. This idea made the Tories dislike him.
After Queen Anne came to the throne, Vernon was dismissed from his job. He was replaced by the Earl of Nottingham. He was re-elected as an MP for Westminster in 1701. As a form of pension, he was given a job as a Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer in 1702. He was again elected MP for Penryn in 1705 and 1708.
When the Tories won a big victory in 1710, he lost his teller job. However, he later received a payment of £700 and a yearly pension of £600. He did not run for Parliament again after 1710. In 1716, he was one of the people in charge of the Privy Seal for a short time. He did not hold any other major jobs during the reign of King George I.
Family and Legacy
James Vernon's wife, Mary, passed away in 1715. He spent his final years living quietly in Watford, Hertfordshire. He died on January 31, 1727, and was buried in Watford parish church.
James and Mary Vernon had two sons and two daughters.
- Their daughter Mary married Michael Harrison, who was also an MP.
- Their eldest son, James, became an ambassador to Copenhagen.
- Their younger son, Edward Vernon (1684–1757), became a famous admiral. He was known for his victory at the Battle of Porto Bello.
James Vernon's grandson, Francis, later became the Earl of Shipbrook in 1777.
See also
- William Chaloner
