Biographies A-Z

Fitzgerald, Geraldine Mary Wilma (1913–2005), actress and stage director, was born 24 November 1913 at 85 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, one of two daughters and two sons of Edward Martin Fitzgerald (1886–1965), a lawyer, who was Roman catholic, and his wife Edith Marie (née Richards) (…

Fitzgerald, Henry (1562–97), 12th earl of Kildare , magnate, was the second son of Gerald Fitzgerald (qv), 11th earl of Kildare, and his wife Mabel, daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, KG…

Fitzgerald, James (1571?–1601), the ‘Tower earl ’ or ‘queen's earl’ of Desmond , was the only son of Gerald (qv), 15th earl of Desmond, and his second wife, Eleanor (…

Fitzgerald, James (1722–73), 20th earl of Kildare and 1st duke of Leinster , politician, was born 29 May 1722 in Dublin, second son of Robert Fitzgerald (1675–1744), 19th earl of Kildare, and his wife Mary (d. 1780), eldest daughter of William O'Brien, 3rd earl of Inchiquin. He…

Fitzgerald, James (1742–1835), lawyer and politician, was born at Inchicronan, Co. Clare, eldest son of William Fitzgerald, attorney, from Ennis, Co. Clare, and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and co-heir of Pierce Lynch, of Co. Clare. Educated at the Rev. Thomas Benson's school in…

Fitzgerald, James fitz Gerald (c.1380–1462), 7th earl of Desmond , was third son of Gerald fitz Maurice FitzGerald (qv), 3rd earl of Desmond, and his wife Eleanor, daughter of…

Fitzgerald, James fitz John (d. 1558), 14th earl of Desmond , treasurer of Ireland, was the second but eldest surviving son of Sir John fitz Thomas Fitzgerald and More, daughter of Donogh O'Brien of Carrigogunnell in Co. Limerick, lord of Pobblebrien. He actively supported his…

FitzGerald, James fitz Maurice (a.1500–1529), 11th earl of Desmond , was son of Maurice fitz Thomas FitzGerald (qv), 10th earl of Desmond, and Ellen Roche. He appears to have taken control of the earldom sometime…

Fitzgerald, James fitz Maurice (d. 1579), catholic militant and prominent member of the Fitzgerald family of Munster, instigated two rebellions against Queen Elizabeth with the intention of halting the reformation in Ireland and restoring the catholic faith. He was the second son…

Fitzgerald, James fitz Thomas (d. 1607), ‘sugán’ earl of Desmond , was eldest son of Sir Thomas fitz James Fitzgerald (‘Thomas Roe’). The identity of his mother is uncertain but she appears to have been a daughter of Theobald Butler, 3rd Baron Cahir. Sir Thomas was bastardised when his…

FitzGerald, James fitz Thomas (c.1459–1487), 9th earl of Desmond, magnate, was son of Thomas fitz James FitzGerald (qv), 8th earl, and Alice Barry, and succeeded to the earldom after the execution of his father (…

Fitzgerald, James (Jim) (1929–2003), theatre and television director, was born 13 August 1929 in Clontarf, Dublin, son of Gerald Fitzgerald and Kathleen Fitzgerald (née Keogh); his father worked in theatre as a stage carpenter, stage manager, and actor. Reared on Dublin’s northside, Jim…

FitzGerald, Joan (1923–99), political confidante, was born 24 March 1923 in Liverpool, England, elder of the two children of Charles O'Farrell (d. 1956), a former colonial civil servant, with Galway roots, who had served in west Africa, and his wife Frances (1889–1974), daughter of…

FitzGerald, John (a.1377–1399) and Thomas fitz John FitzGerald (c.1386–1420), 4th and 6th earls of Desmond, succeeded in turn to the earldom but neither managed to make a lasting impact on the fortunes of their family. John fitz Gerald was the eldest son of…

Fitzgerald, John (1825–1910), poet, painter, antiquary, and wood-carver, was born 18 June 1825 at Hanover Street, Cork, son of John Fitzgerald and Martha Mary Deacy. He was educated at Fr Mathew's (qv) school, Blackamoor Lane, and…

Fitzgerald, John David (1816–89), Baron Fitzgerald , Irish law officer and British lord of appeal, was born 1 May 1816 in Co. Limerick, second son of David Fitzgerald, a merchant from Dublin who was believed to have taken part in the abortive rising of…

Fitzgerald, John fitz Edmund (d. 1589), landowner and rebel, was the son of Edmund fitz Maurice Fitzgerald, 6th seneschal of Imokilly, and Shylie, daughter of Mulroney O'Carroll, lord of O'Carroll Ely. He succeeded his father as seneschal, in which office he played a key role in…

FitzGerald, John fitz Thomas (c.1198–1261), magnate, was the son and heir of Thomas fitz Maurice FitzGerald (d. 1213), lord of Shanid, and his wife, Sadhbh. On his father's death, custody of his wardship and marriage was granted to…

FitzGerald, John fitz Thomas (c.1265–1316), 5th lord of Offaly and 1st earl of Kildare , magnate, was son of Thomas fitz Maurice FitzGerald (d. 1271), the fourth son of Maurice fitz Gerald FitzGerald (qv) (d.…

Fitzgerald, John Fraunceis (1791–1854), hereditary knight of Glin and scholar, was born 28 June 1791, only son of John Bateman Fitzgerald (1756–1803), knight of Glin and colonel of Limerick volunteers, and Margaretta Maria Fitzgerald (née Gwyn; d. 1801) of Combe Florey, Somerset,…

Fitzgerald, Katherine (d. 1604), countess of Desmond , was reputed to be the legendary old countess of Desmond. She was the daughter of Sir John Fitzgerald, 2nd lord of Decies, and Ellen, daughter of John Fitzgibbon, the White Knight. She married…

Fitzgerald (Lennox), Emily (Emilia Mary) (1731–1814), duchess of Leinster , was born on 6 October 1731 and baptised at St George's church, Hanover Square, London, the second surviving daughter of Charles Lennox, second duke of Richmond, who was grandson of Charles II and his…

Fitzgerald, Lord Edward (1763–98), United Irishman, was born 15 October 1763 in London, the fifth son and twelfth child of James FitzGerald (qv), first duke of Leinster, and his wife,…

Fitzgerald, Lord Henry (1761–1829), soldier and politician, was born 30 July 1761, fourth son among nine sons and ten daughters of James Fitzgerald (qv), later 1st duke of Leinster, and his wife Lady…

Fitzgerald, Lord Walter (1858–1923), soldier and antiquary, was born 22 January 1858 in Dublin, fourth son of Charles William Fitzgerald, 4th duke of Leinster, and his wife Lady Caroline, third surviving daughter of the 2nd duke of Sutherland. Educated initially in Cheam, Surrey, he…