Col. Richard Fitzgerald M.P.

By Frank Meehan
Extracted from "Laois Yearbook" 1989

Col. The Rt. Hon. Richard Fitzgerald of Kilminchy Castle, Maryborough, Queen's County and also Mount Offaly, Co Kildare was the 5th son of Gerald Fitzgerald of Coolanawle, Queens County by his wife Mary daughter of Sir Robert Hartpole of Shrule Castle, Queen's County.

Richard Fitzgerald married first Margaret, daughter of James 4th and last Lord Kingston of Mitchelstown Castle, Co Cork by whom he had an only daughter Caroline who married her kinsman Robert Lord Kingsborough son of the 1st Earl of Kingston (2nd Creation). He married secondly Mary, daughter and heiress of Farfex Mercer of Fair Hill, Co Louth, and by her had one son Gerald who by his second wife Katherine daughter of Sir Lucius O'Brien 3rd Baronet of Dromoland, Co Clare was the father of the Rt. Hon. James Edward Fitzgerald 1st Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Richard Fitzgerald was elected M.P. for Boyle, Co Roscommon on 21st October 1763 and held the seat till he was shot in a duel in 1776 by the Earl of Kingston.

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