Robert FitzGerald (1637–1698)

Robert FitzGerald (1637 – 31 January 1698) was an Irish soldier, politician and official.

Biography

FitzGerald was the third, but second surviving, son of George FitzGerald, 16th Earl of Kildare and Lady Joan Boyle, daughter of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork.[1]

In 1659 he was commissioned with the rank of cornet and in 1664 he was promoted to lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards. Between 1661 and 1666 he was a Member of Parliament for County Kildare in the Irish House of Commons. As Comptroller of the Musters and Cheques of the Army in the Dublin Castle administration, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland in 1678 by Charles II of England. Between 1680 and 1685 he served as Custos Rotulorum of County Kildare. Following the Glorious Revolution, it appears that he adhered to James II of England and served in his Irish army as Comptroller of Musters. He was present at the Battle of the Boyne.[2] Despite this, he seems to have escaped any repercussions and represented County Kildare in parliament again from 1692 to 1693.[3]

On 4 August 1663, he married Mary Clotworthy. Their only son was Robert FitzGerald, 19th Earl of Kildare.[4]

References

  1. ^ Burke, Bernard (1883). A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire. 1883; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 149.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ "FITZGERALD, Robert. Comptroller of Musters, King's army, 2 June 1690 and at the Boyne". Centre for Robert Burns Studies: Officers of the Jacobite Armies. University of Glasgow. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  3. ^ Johnston-Liik, E.M. (2006). MPs in Dublin: Companion to History of the Irish Parliament, 1692-1800. Newtownards: Ulster Historical Foundation. p. 88. ISBN 1903688604.
  4. ^ Cokayne, G.E. (2000). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant (Volume I). Gloucester, UK: Alan Sutton Publishing. p. 110.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
Maurice Fitzgerald
Maurice Eustace
 Member of Parliament for County Kildare
1661–1666
With: Sir Paul Davys 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for County Kildare
1692–1693
With: George FitzGerald 		Succeeded by