Francis Vernon, 1st Earl of Shipbrook

Who was Francis Vernon, 1st Earl of Shipbrook?

Francis Vernon, 1st Earl of Shipbrook, known as The Lord Orwell between 1762 and 1776 and as The Viscount Orwell between 1776 and 1777, was an English politician.

Vernon was the son of James Vernon by his second wife Arethusa, daughter of Charles Boyle, Lord Clifford. James Vernon and Edward Vernon were his elder half-brothers. Vernon sat as Member of Parliament for Ipswich from 1762 to 1768. In 1762 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Orwell, of Newry in the County of Down. He was further honoured when he was made Viscount Orwell in 1776 and Earl of Shipbrooke in 1777, also in the Irish peerage.

He married Alice, daughter of Samuel Ibbetson of Denton Hall, Wharfedale, Yorkshire. Their son, Francis died early.

Lord Shipbrooke died in October 1783 when all the titles became extinct.