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

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 privately and was called to the bar by King's Inns in 1838.[2] In 1870, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Dublin.[4]

Career

FitzGerald became a Queen's Counsel in 1847, and was a judge of the Munster circuit.[2] He entered the 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 a 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 life peerage title of 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]

Judgements

Family

In 1846, he married Rose, second daughter of John Donohoe, and had by her three sons.[7] She died in 1850, and FitzGerald remarried Hon. Jane Matilda Mary, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Francis Southwell and Mary Ann Agnes Dillon, and sister of Thomas Southwell, 4th Viscount Southwell.[7] By his second wife, he had four sons and six daughters.[7] The former Conservative politician Amber Rudd is his great-great-granddaughter.

The arms of Fitzgerald: Ermine a Mascle Or over all a Saltire Gules [8]

References

  1. ^ "Leigh Rayment - Peerage". Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Dod, Robert P. (1860). The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland. London: Whitaker and Co. p. 257.
  3. ^ O'Malley, Liam. The Law Faculty. Galway: National University of Ireland, Galway. p. 45.
  4. ^ a b c d Debrett, John (1886). Robert Henry Mair (ed.). Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench. London: Dean & Son. p. 284.
  5. ^ "Leigh Rayment - Baronetage, Ennis". Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "No. 25119". The London Gazette. 20 June 1882. p. 2848.
  7. ^ a b c "ThePeerage - John David FitzGerald, Baron FitzGerald of Kilmarnock". Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  8. ^ "Fitzgerald of Kilmarnock, Baron (UK, 1882 - 1889)". Cracroft's Peerage.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Ennis
18521860
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Solicitor-General for Ireland
1855 – 1856
Succeeded by
Preceded by Attorney-General for Ireland
1856 – 1858
Succeeded by
Preceded by Attorney-General for Ireland
1859 – 1860
Succeeded by
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