George Venables Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon

Politics

Vernon was born at Stapleford Hall in Nottinghamshire. Sir Richard Vernon, Speaker of the House of Commons from 1425 to 1426, was an ancestor. Vernon entered public life in 1831, as Member of Parliament for Derbyshire. As a result of the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832 (which Vernon supported) the parliamentary seat for Derbyshire was divided in two, and he became MP for the southern part. He continued in the House of Commons until 1835, when he succeeded his father as Baron Vernon and entered the House of Lords. In 1837, he exchanged his patronymic surname Venables-Vernon for that of Warren, in compliance with the will of Viscountess Bulkeley, but his children born before 1839 retained their original surname. He was an expert rifle-shot and an energetic supporter of the Volunteer movement for which he raised the 2nd (Sudbury) Derbyshire Rifle Volunteer Corps of two companies in 16 March 1860.

Italy

As a youth, Vernon was taken to Italy, and later returned to live in Florence, where he studied the Italian language and history. His whole life was devoted to Dante, to whom he erected a noble literary monument. With the advice and help of friends and collaborators, he printed (though not for sale) some then unedited texts and two important works. The first of these was Le prime quattro Edizioni della Divina Commedia letteralmente ristampate, London, 1858, a careful reprint of the first editions of Dante's Divine Comedy, edited by Sir Anthony Panizzi with a learned preface. This was followed by a remarkable publication, L' Inferno di Dante Alighieri disposto in ordine grammaticale e corredato di brevi dichiarazioni di G. G. Warren, Lord Vernon, London, 1858–1865, 3 vols. folio, of which only a limited number of copies were issued for private circulation.

The latter work was described by Henry Clark Barlow as one "which, for utility of purpose, comprehensiveness of design, and costly execution, has never been equalled in any country." Some of the most distinguished artists and men of letters in Italy were occupied for twenty years in its preparation. The first volume includes the text of the Inferno with many unpublished documents; and the third volume, which appeared after Lord Vernon's death, contains 112 original engravings of incidents in the Inferno, views of towns, castles, and other localities mentioned therein, as well as portraits, paintings, plans, and historical monuments illustrating the history of the fourteenth century.

Membership

Vernon a socio correspondent of the Accademia della Crusca, and was a member of many other literary societies. He was also created Cavaliere di San Maurizio e Lazzaro in May 1865, in recognition of his labours on behalf of the national poet.

Family

Vernon married twice. On 30 October 1824, he married his first wife, Isabella Caroline, daughter of Cuthbert Ellison of Hebburn, Durham, who bore him two sons, Augustus Henry (1829–1883) (the 6th baron), and William John (b. 1834), and three daughters, including Caroline Maria (born 1826, married 1845 Reverend Frederick Anson, canon of Windsor and rector of Sudbury);. He remarried on 14 December 1859, to his cousin, Frances Emma Maria, only daughter of the Rev. Brooke Boothby, who survived him but was childless.

After a long illness, Vernon died at Sudbury Hall, the family seat, near Derby, on 31 May 1866 aged 62.

Publications

An engraved portrait of Vernon is in the album of his Inferno. Besides the two works above mentioned, he also printed :