Richard FitzGibbon, 3rd Earl of Clare facts for kids
Richard Hobart FitzGibbon, the 3rd Earl of Clare, was an important Anglo-Irish politician and noble. He was born on October 2, 1793, and passed away on January 10, 1864. He played a role in British politics during the 19th century.
Early Life and Military Service
Richard FitzGibbon was born in Mountshannon House in County Limerick, Ireland. He attended Harrow School, a well-known school in England. After his education, he joined the British Army. He was a soldier and took part in two important battles: the Battle of Oporto and the Battle of Talavera. These battles were part of the Peninsular War.
A Career in Politics
In 1818, Richard FitzGibbon decided to enter politics. He ran in the 1818 UK general election for the area of Limerick County. He represented the Whigs, which was a major political group at the time. He won the election and became a Member of Parliament (MP). This meant he helped make laws in the British Parliament.
While in Parliament, he did not speak very often. He also sometimes voted differently from his party's leaders. Even so, he kept his seat in Parliament until 1841. He sometimes called himself an "independent" politician. In 1818, he was also made the Governor of Limerick. Later, he served twice as the Lord Lieutenant of Limerick. A Lord Lieutenant was a representative of the King or Queen in a county.
Family and Later Life
Richard FitzGibbon had a son named John Charles Henry FitzGibbon. Sadly, his son passed away in 1854 during the Battle of Balaklava. In 1851, Richard FitzGibbon became the Earl of Clare after his brother passed away. This meant he inherited a noble title. He lived until 1864, when he died at the age of 70.
