Fitzpatrick, Patrick Vincent (1792–1865), political and financial manager to Daniel O'Connell (qv), was born 19 July 1792 at 2 Ormond Quay, Dublin, eldest son of Hugh Fitzpatrick (qv), printer, engraver, and publisher, and his wife Jane Fitzpatrick (d. 1814). Boarding first at the Drogheda classical academy under the Rev. James Keelan, he next entered the catholic seminary, St Patrick's college, Maynooth, as a lay scholar for two years, before educating himself at home; he also studied briefly in TCD c.1811/12. His affluent family circumstances altered drastically in 1813 on the state prosecution and conviction of his father for the publication of seditious libel. Shortly after his father's release from prison in October 1814, his mother died. Patrick continued the family book trade for several years. Then, radicalised in political sentiment, he appears to have qualified in law c.1820 (probably in London), and was practising as a barrister on the home circuit by the mid 1820s, when he joined the Catholic Association. In 1828 he published a discursive twelve-part poem, Thaumaturgis; though he wrote poetry throughout his life, his verse was never collected.
These interests were decisively overtaken from the later 1820s by his intimate involvement in politics. On 22 June 1828, taking up the casual suggestion of Sir David Roose (d. 1836), he excitedly urged Daniel O'Connell to contest the seat for Co. Clare in the ensuing general election, promising to raise the campaign expenses. O'Connell yielded to his persuasion by 24 June, and within ten days Fitzpatrick had accumulated £2,800 towards the election fund. During early 1829 he came up with the notion of a national Irish testimonial to O'Connell when it became clear that there was unbending establishment resistance to the promotion of O'Connell in the legal profession. He took day-to-day charge of the project, impressing O'Connell with his zeal, good humour, and organisational discipline. O'Connell's personal and political finances were in a parlous state for much of his life; the transformation necessary for his continued full-time representation of the Irish nationalist cause was contrived, from the summer of 1830, when Fitzpatrick brought into being an annual O'Connell tribute. His discreet management of clerical contacts thawed initial suspicions in the diocese of Waterford and elsewhere, making the Sunday collection a considerable success. By late 1830 he had made O'Connell aware that his own legal business was suffering, and he was soon given formal employment as manager of the tribute, on a percentage commission. By mid 1831 he supplemented his exertions as fund manager with miscellaneous assistance in gathering political information and rumour. In July and August that year he was conveying O'Connell's views on the reform bill to interested parties in Dublin. By 1832 he was warmly acknowledged by O'Connell as indispensable confidant and adviser.
Close to one-quarter of all surviving correspondence to and from O'Connell during 1833–45 was received by or issued from Fitzpatrick. His duties were extraordinarily various, ranging from rummaging about in O'Connell's house in Merrion Square, Dublin, for deeds or books, to dispatching newspapers and journals to London or Derrynane when required, superintending the O'Connell trust fund established with the annual tribute, and the constant communication of sagacious advice and commentary on the Irish political situation, delivered with nicely balanced respect and sardonic humour. O'Connell made it his habit to unburden his mind almost daily to Fitzpatrick, making him privy to the fluctuations in his political thinking, in confidence that his views would be sensitively and accurately interpreted for others in Dublin. Because of his confidential relationship with O'Connell, he was seen as a source of special information by influential supporters whose goodwill needed to be cultivated and maintained. On the rare occasions when he could not conceal low spirits, he transmitted that mood to O'Connell – testimony to how much O'Connell depended for emotional support on Fitzpatrick's sanguine temperament, particularly after the death of his wife in 1836. Throughout numerous crises Fitzpatrick managed to disentangle O'Connell's fraught finances and reassure him about the future.
Though becoming partner, with Morgan O'Connell (qv), in a Cork brewery during the early 1830s, Fitzpatrick was, for nearly twenty years, totally occupied as self-sacrificing lieutenant in the campaigns of O'Connell. Remigius Sheehan (qv), a tenacious political opponent, correctly depicted him as the foundation on which Irish agitation was based. As O'Connell sank into ill health in late 1846, he secured Fitzpatrick a sinecure as assistant registrar of deeds. Having resolved O'Connell's financial affairs in January 1847, Fitzpatrick used his clerical influences to secure the release of the Rev. John Miley (qv) to accompany O'Connell on his pilgrimage to Rome. O'Connell finally parted from Fitzpatrick at Hastings in March, two months before his death.
Fitzpatrick's retirement from politics was comfortable and reportedly convivial. He died unmarried at 26/7 Eccles St., Dublin on 25 September 1865, and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery. His papers were inherited by his nephew, W. J. Fitzpatrick (qv).