Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney

Ralph Verney, 1st Earl Verney (18 March 1683 – 4 October 1752), of Middle Claydon, near Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, known as The Viscount Fermanagh until 1742, was initially a Tory and later a Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons in two phases between 1717 and 1752.

Early life Verney was born at Little Chelsea, the only surviving son of John Verney, 1st Viscount Fermanagh and his first wife Elizabeth Palmer, the eldest daughter of Ralph Palmer, and was baptised in Kensington. He was educated at Mrs Morland's school at Hackney from around 1695 to 1700 and matriculated at Merton College, Oxford in 1700. He married Catherine Paschall, eldest daughter of Henry Paschall of Baddow, Essex at St Giles in the Fields on 24 February 1708.

Career Verney succeeded his father as viscount and took his seat in the Irish House of Lords on 23 June 1717. He was returned unopposed for Wendover at the 1747 British general election. The couple had two sons and two daughters. The older son John predeceased him in 1737 and he was succeeded in his titles by his second son Ralph.