John FitzGerald, Baron FitzGerald

For the hereditary Barony of FitzGerald, see William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey.

John David FitzGerald, Baron FitzGerald PC, PC (Ire) (1 May 1816 – 16 October 1889)[1] was an Irish judge and Liberal politician.

Contents

Background

Born in Dublin, he was the son of the merchant David FitzGerald and his wife Catherine, eldest daughter of David Leahy.[2] His sister Kate was married to Charles Robert Barry and his youngest sister Emily to Denis Caulfield Heron.[3] FitzGerald was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and was called to the bar by King's Inns in 1838.[2] In 1870, he received a Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Dublin.[4]

Career

FitzGerald became a Queen's Counsel in 1847 and was judge of the Munster circuit.[2] He entered the British House of Commons in 1852, sitting for Ennis the next eight years.[5] In 1855, FitzGerald was first elected a Bencher, then nominated Solicitor-General for Ireland.[4] He became Attorney-General for Ireland already one year later, on which appointment he was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.[2] FitzGerald held the former post until 1858 and after a break for a year, again until 1860, when he was appointed Judge on the Court of Queen's Bench (Ireland).[4] On 23 June 1882, he was created a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary with the title Baron FitzGerald, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Dublin.[6] Six days later, he was additionally sworn of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.[4]

Family

In 1846, he married firstly Rose, second daughter of John O'Donohue, and had by her three sons.[7] She died in 1850 and FitzGerald remarried Hon. Jane Matilda Mary, daughter of Arthur Francis Southwell and sister of Thomas Southwell, 4th Viscount Southwell.[7] By his second wife, he had four sons and six daughters.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Leigh Rayment - Peerage". http://www.leighrayment.com/peers/peersF2.htm. Retrieved 13 August 2009. 
  2. ^ a b c d Dod, Robert P. (1860). The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland. London: Whitaker and Co.. pp. 257. 
  3. ^ O'Malley, Liam. The Law Faculty. Galway: National University of Ireland, Galway. pp. 45. 
  4. ^ a b c d Debrett, John (1886). Robert Henry Mair. ed. Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench. London: Dean & Son. pp. 284. 
  5. ^ "Leigh Rayment - Baronetage, Ennis". http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Ecommons2.htm. Retrieved 13 August 2009. 
  6. ^ London Gazette: no. 25119. p. 2848. 20 June 1882. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  7. ^ a b c "ThePeerage - John David FitzGerald, Baron FitzGerald of Kilmarnock". http://www.thepeerage.com/p3805.htm#i38046. Retrieved 13 August 2009. 

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
James Patrick O'Gorman Mahon		 Member of Parliament for Ennis
1852 – 1860		 Succeeded by
William Stacpoole
Legal offices
Preceded by
William Keogh		 Solicitor-General for Ireland
1855 – 1856		 Succeeded by
Jonathan Christian
Preceded by
William Keogh		 Attorney-General for Ireland
1856 – 1858		 Succeeded by
James Whiteside
Preceded by
James Whiteside		 Attorney-General for Ireland
1859 – 1860		 Succeeded by
Rickard Deasy