Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster facts for kids
Augustus Frederick FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster (born August 21, 1791 – died February 10, 1874) was an important Irish nobleman and a leader in a group called the freemasons. From the time he was born until 1804, people called him Marquess of Kildare. He was born and passed away at Carton House.
FitzGerald was the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland for a very long time. He held this important position for 61 years, from 1813 until he died in 1874.
His Family Life
Augustus FitzGerald was the oldest son of William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster and his wife, Emilia Olivia. When his father passed away in 1804, Augustus became the Duke of Leinster.
On June 16, 1818, he married Lady Charlotte Augusta Stanhope. She was born on February 15, 1793, and died on February 15, 1859. They had four children together:
- Charles FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster (1819–1887)
- Lord Gerald FitzGerald (born January 6, 1821, in London – died September 23, 1886). He married Anne Agnes Barker on June 9, 1862. They had one son:
- Edward Gerald FitzGerald (born September 2, 1863, in London – died August 5, 1919, in Studland). He married Anne Josephine Throckmorton in London on February 20, 1913, but they did not have children.
- Lady Jane Seymour FitzGerald (died November 3, 1898). She married George William John Repton on September 5, 1848.
- Lord Otho Augustus FitzGerald (1827–1882)
Roles in Government
Augustus FitzGerald held several important government jobs. In 1819, he became the Custos Rotulorum of Kildare. This role meant he was the chief keeper of the county's records. In 1831, he also became the Lord Lieutenant of Kildare. This was a high-ranking official who represented the King or Queen in the county. He kept both of these jobs for his entire life.
Also in 1831, he joined the Privy Council of Ireland and the Privy Council of Great Britain. These councils were groups of important advisors to the King or Queen. He was also the Lord High Constable of Ireland during the special crowning ceremonies for King William IV and Queen Victoria. From 1836 to 1841, he worked as a Commissioner of National Education for Ireland. This meant he helped make decisions about schools and learning in Ireland.
His Role in Freemasonry
In 1813, Augustus FitzGerald was chosen to be the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. This is the highest leader of the Freemasons in Ireland. He held this important position for 61 years, until he died in 1874.
Under FitzGerald's leadership, and with the help of his Deputy Grand Secretary, John Fowler, the Freemason groups in Ireland became much more organized. They all had to follow the rules and get approval from the Grand Lodge of Ireland. This made the Freemason movement in Ireland very strong and united.
A special type of Freemasonry called the Rite of Misraim came to Ireland from France during FitzGerald's time. One of the Bédarride brothers, who created this Rite, is thought to have visited Ireland in 1820. By February 1821, a group of seventeen members of this Rite was formed in Ireland. FitzGerald and Fowler were part of this group. Even though this Rite was banned in France in 1822, it continued in Ireland. It became part of a larger group called the Supreme Grand Council of Rites, which the Grand Lodge of Ireland approved in 1838.
