Richard FitzWilliam, 5th Viscount FitzWilliam facts for kids
Richard FitzWilliam, 5th Viscount FitzWilliam (born around 1677 – died June 6, 1743), was an important Irish nobleman and politician. He lived at Mount Merrion in Dublin, Ireland.
Who Was Richard FitzWilliam?
Richard FitzWilliam was the only son of Thomas FitzWilliam, 4th Viscount FitzWilliam. His mother was Mary Stapleton. The FitzWilliam family had been in Ireland since about 1210. By the 1600s, they owned a lot of land in Dublin.
His Life and Work
Richard became the 5th Viscount FitzWilliam in 1704. A viscount is a noble title, like a lord. In 1715, he joined the Irish Privy Council. This was a group of important advisors to the King in Ireland.
In 1727, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Fowey in England. He held this job until 1734. His father and grandfather were Roman Catholics. His father even faced trouble for supporting the Catholic King James II. But Richard chose to join the Church of Ireland, which was the official church at that time.
His Homes and Land
In 1711, Richard built a new home called Mount Merrion House in Dublin. It's interesting that their older family home, Merrion Castle, was left to fall apart. By 1730, it was a ruin and was later taken down completely.
Richard spent his later years living in England. However, his children and grandchildren returned to Mount Merrion. He rented out Mount Merrion House to John Wainwright, who was a judge in Ireland.
His Family
Lord Fitzwilliam married Frances Shelley. They had five children:
- Richard FitzWilliam, 6th Viscount FitzWilliam
- William FitzWilliam, who worked as an important official in Ireland called the Usher of the Black Rod.
- John FitzWilliam, who became a soldier.
- Mary FitzWilliam, who married Henry Herbert, 9th Earl of Pembroke. Later, a lot of the FitzWilliam family's land and wealth went to the Herbert family through this marriage. The Herberts still own a lot of land in Dublin today. Mary later married Major North Ludlow Bernard.
- Frances FitzWilliam, who married George Evans, 2nd Baron Carbery.
