Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Kildare facts for kids

Gerald FitzGerald was an important Irish nobleman who lived a long time ago. He was known as the 14th Earl of Kildare. A big part of his life involved a long legal fight with his family about who should get their family's land and money. He died on February 11, 1612.

Early Life and Family Connections

Gerald FitzGerald's father was Edward FitzGerald. His grandfather was the 9th Earl of Kildare, also named Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare. His grandmother was Elizabeth Grey, who was related to King Henry VIII of England.

Edward FitzGerald married Agnes Leigh. Agnes's father was Sir John Leigh of Stockwell, Surrey. She was also related to Queen Catherine Howard, another wife of King Henry VIII. Agnes had been married before to Sir Thomas Paston. The Paston family was famous in Norfolk and wrote many important letters known as the Paston Letters.

Public Roles and Challenges

Gerald FitzGerald became a knight in 1599. In the same year, he became the Earl of Kildare after his cousin William passed away. He held important jobs in Ireland. In 1600, he was the Governor of Offaly. Later, in 1604, he worked as a Commissioner in Connaught.

The last ten years of his life were very difficult. He was involved in a long lawsuit (a legal case in court) with his cousin, Lettice. Lettice was the only child of the 11th Earl of Kildare's eldest son. She expected to inherit a lot of her grandfather's property. But shortly before her grandfather died in 1585, he changed his will, and she was left out.

In 1602, Lettice sued both Gerald and her grandmother, Mabel Browne. She claimed that Countess Mabel had changed the legal papers unfairly. Lettice said that Gerald was holding her property illegally. Gerald then sued them back. He claimed that Lettice and Mabel were working together to take his property. This case became very famous. It went on for many years in courts in both London and Dublin. Gerald complained that the lawsuit was hurting his reputation and costing him a lot of money. The case was not finished even after Gerald and Mabel had both died.

Family Life

Lord Kildare married his cousin, Elizabeth Nugent. She was the daughter of Christopher Nugent, 5th Baron Delvin. Her mother, Lady Mary FitzGerald, was the daughter of the 11th Earl of Kildare. Elizabeth was still alive in 1634. At that time, she rented Kilkea Castle in County Kildare to the Jesuit Order. Kilkea Castle had been a home for the FitzGerald family for a long time.

Gerald FitzGerald died suddenly in February 1612 at Maynooth. He had complained of a "pain in his stomach." His young son, also named Gerald, became the next Earl. However, his son died when he was very young in 1620.