Gerald Fitzgibbon (author) facts for kids
Gerald Fitzgibbon (born in 1793, died in 1882) was an important Irish lawyer and writer. He started a famous family tradition of legal experts. His son and grandson, both also named Gerald FitzGibbon, became very respected judges.
Early Life and Learning
Gerald Fitzgibbon was born in Glin, County Limerick. He was the fourth son of a farmer and his wife. He got his early education at home and nearby. In 1814, he moved to Dublin and started working as a clerk in a business office.
Even while working, he spent his free time studying classic subjects. In 1817, he began studying at Trinity College Dublin. He earned his first degree in 1825 and a master's degree in 1832. In 1830, he became a lawyer, which is called being "called to the Irish Bar" in Ireland. During his college years and while preparing to be a lawyer, he supported himself by teaching others.
His Career as a Lawyer
Gerald Fitzgibbon chose to become a lawyer because his teacher, Dr. Stephen Sandes (who later became a Bishop), and future judge Charles Burton advised him to. He quickly became successful at the Irish Bar. His experience in business helped him a lot. In 1841, he became a Queen's Counsel, which is a special title for experienced lawyers.
In 1844, he defended Sir John Grey in a famous court case. During this trial, Fitzgibbon said something about Sir Thomas Cusack-Smith, who was the top government lawyer in Ireland (the Irish Attorney-General). Sir Thomas, who was known for being a bit hot-tempered, thought Fitzgibbon was questioning his honor.
The two lawyers had a disagreement in court. The main judge, Edward Pennefather, stopped the trial to give them time to think. The Attorney-General then agreed to take back his challenge, and Fitzgibbon said he didn't mean to insult him. With that, the issue was resolved, and the trial continued. People in the courtroom were surprised because Fitzgibbon's wife and daughter were watching the whole thing.
As an Author
Fitzgibbon continued his very successful legal work until 1860. Then, he took a new job as a Receiver-Master in Chancery, which involved managing legal cases about property.
In 1868, he published a book called Ireland in 1868. This book talked about important issues in Ireland at the time, like education, farming, and religion. The longest part of the book discussed how Ireland had improved because of its connection to England. A second version of the book came out that same year, with a new chapter about land ownership and the duties of landowners.
He also wrote a pamphlet in 1869 called 'The Land Difficulty of Ireland'. In this, he suggested that Irish farmers should be allowed to keep their land permanently (called fixity of tenure) if they made improvements to their property that a public official approved.
In 1871, he published another pamphlet, Roman Catholic Priests and National Schools. This discussed the religious teaching given by Roman Catholic priests. Fitzgibbon was generally cautious about the Roman Catholic priesthood. A second edition of this pamphlet came out in 1872.
In 1871, someone in the House of Commons accused him of being unfair while managing some property cases. He wrote a pamphlet to defend himself, called Refutation of a Libel on Gerald Fitzgibbon, Esq., Master in Chancery in Ireland. He also published A Banded Ministry and the Upas Tree in 1873. He retired from his job in 1880 and passed away in September 1882.
His Reputation
As a lawyer, Gerald Fitzgibbon was known for being very patient, hardworking, and determined. He also had a strong sense of honor. He chose not to become a judge because he didn't want to get involved in party politics. He believed that judges should be chosen only because they are good at their job, not because of their political connections. This idea is widely accepted today, but it wasn't popular in his time. He often warned that if only politicians could become judges, the courts might end up with less experienced lawyers.
He was also very traditional when it came to changing laws. He had a deep respect for the law itself.
His Family
In 1835, Fitzgibbon married Ellen Patterson, whose father was a merchant from Belfast. They had one daughter and two sons.
His elder son, Gerald FitzGibbon, became a Lord Justice in the Irish Court of Appeal and died in 1909. His other son, Henry Fitzgibbon, was a respected doctor and a leader at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Gerald FitzGibbon's elder son also had a son named Gerald Fitzgibbon. This third Gerald Fitzgibbon followed in his father's footsteps and became a judge. When the Irish Free State was formed, he became one of the first judges of the Supreme Court of Ireland. Ellen Fitzgibbon died in 1885. Fitzgibbon's nephew, another Henry Fitzgibbon, was the Recorder of Belfast, which is a type of judge. His family belonged to the Church of Ireland.
