FITZGERALD, Sir PETER GEORGE (1808–1880), nineteenth Knight of Kerry, eldest surviving son of the Right Hon. Maurice Fitzgerald [q. v.] of Glanleam, by Maria, daughter of the Right Hon. David la Touche of Marlay, co. Dublin, was born 15 Sept. 1808. He began life in the banking-house of his maternal grandfather at Dublin. He subsequently entered the public service, and was appointed vice-treasurer of Ireland in the last ministry of Sir Robert Peel. Succeeding his father in 1849, from that period he resided almost constantly on the island of Valentia, devoting himself indefatigably to the duties of an Irish landlord, the improvement of his estates, and the welfare of his tenantry. He especially earned the thanks of the people by the erection of substantial homesteads in place of the wretched cabins with which the middleman system had covered the west of Ireland. Fitzgerald manifested a keen interest in all questions which had a practical bearing on the progress or prosperity of Ireland; and in able contributions to the 'Times' he deprecated the censure which at that time and since was cast indiscriminately upon all Irish landlords. His own admirable personal qualities, his hatred of abuses, his engaging manners, and his generous nature, made him a great favourite with the Irish peasantry. His hospitality at Glanleam was enjoyed by the Prince of Wales and other distinguished guests. The Atlantic cable had its British termination on his estates, and he evinced much public spirit and energy in connection with the successful laying of the cable. He married in 1838 Julia Hussey, daughter of Peter Bodkin Hussey of Farranikilla House, co. Kerry, a lineal descendant of the Norman family of Hoses, which settled on the promontory of Dingle in the thirteenth century. By this lady he had four sons and seven daughters. Fitzgerald was a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for co. Kerry, and was high sheriff of Kerry in 1849, and of co. Carlow in 1875. On 8 July 1880 the queen conferred upon him a baronetcy. Fitzgerald was then, however, suffering from a dangerous malady, and he died on 6 Aug. following. He was succeeded in the title and estates by his eldest son, Captain Maurice Fitzgerald, who served with distinction in the Ashantee war, being present at the battles of Amoaful, Becquah, and Ordahau, and at the capture of Coomassie.
[Times, 9 Aug. 1880; Guardian, vol. xxxv.; Kerry Evening Post, 11 Aug. 1880.]
FITZGERALD, RAYMOND, surnamed (Le Gros d. 1182), was the son of William, the elder brother of Maurice Fitzgerald, d. 1176
[q. v.], and Robert Fitzstephen [q. v.] (Expugnatio Hibernica, pp. 248, 310), who preceded him in the invasion of Ireland, whither he was sent as Strongbow's representative in April 1170 [see Clare, Richard de, d. 1176], He landed at Dundunnolf, near Waterford (c. 1 May), at the head of ten knights and seventy archers, and at once entrenched himself behind a turf fortification. Here he was besieged by the Ostmen of Waterford in alliance with the Irish of Decies and Idrone. A sudden sally repelled the assailants with a loss of seventy prisoners. Raymond spared their lives against the advice of Hervey de Mountmaurice, who had represented Strongbow in Ireland before he himself arrived, and a long feud arose from this (Exp. Hib. pp. 250-3; Regan, pp. 70-2; Ann. Four Masters, i. 1177; Annals of Inisf. p. 114).
Four months later Earl Strongbow reached Ireland, and the fall of Waterford was due to Raymond, who, in the words of Giraldus, was totius exercitus dux et tribunus militiaeque princeps' (25 Aug. 1170). After the earl's marriage to Dermot's daughter, Raymond accompanied his lord to Ferns. In the Dublin expedition he led the centre of the army, having eight hundred 'companions' under his orders. There Raymond and Miles de Cogan, tired of negotiations, broke into the place and drove its ruler Asculf to his ships, 21 Sept. 1170 (Exp. Hib. pp. 256-8; Regan, pp. 73-82; Ann. Four Masters, p. 1177; Annals of Boyle, p. 28).
Raymond was soon afterwards sent by the earl to place all his conquests at the disposal of Henry II. Raymond seems to have met Henry in Aquitaine (c. December 1170 to January 1171). He led the first or second squadron in the famous sally from Dublin about July 1171. He probably returned to England with Henry II in April 1172, as he was not one of those to whom the king gave grants of Irish land on leaving the country. A year later, when Strongbow's services in Normandy were rewarded by permission to return to Ireland, he insisted upon taking Raymond with him (Exp. Hib. pp. 256-98; Regan, pp. 73-8).
During the earl's absence Henry de Mountmaurice had apparently occupied his post. The Irish had revolted, the earl's soldiers were unpaid, and threatened to return to England or join the Irish unless Raymond became their constable. The earl yielded, and Raymond led his old troops on a plundering expedition against Offaly; Dermot MacCarthy was routed near Lismore, and four thousand head of cattle were driven into Waterford. Three or four years before the earl had given the constableship of Leinster
