Sir John Fitzgerald, 2nd Baronet facts for kids

Sir John Fitzgerald was an important Irish leader and soldier who lived from about 1640 to 1712. He was a supporter of King James II, a group known as the Jacobites.

Sir John Fitzgerald's Early Life

Sir John Fitzgerald was the son of Sir Edmond Fitzgerald. He studied in Nantes, France. Around 1665, he became a "Baronet" after his father passed away. A Baronet is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family.

In 1670, King Charles II of England gave Sir John 3,000 acres of land back. This land had been taken from his family during a time of conflict in Ireland called the Cromwellian Conquest of Ireland.

Facing Challenges

Sir John was a Roman Catholic. In 1681, he was accused of being involved in something called the Popish Plot. This was a time when many false accusations were made against Catholics. He was called to London and spent some time in prison. However, a special group called a grand jury decided there was no proof, and the accusations against him were dropped.

A Soldier and Politician

Sir John Fitzgerald started his military career in 1685. He was given a special role by King James II of England. By 1689, he was the leader, or colonel, of his own group of soldiers.

Supporting King James II

Sir John strongly supported King James II, especially after an event known as the Glorious Revolution. This was when King James II lost his throne.

Key Battles and Roles

• Sir John was present at the Siege of Derry in 1689. During this battle, his brother, Captain Maurice Fitzgerald, sadly died.
• He also became a Member of Parliament for County Limerick. This was part of a special meeting called the Patriot Parliament, which King James II set up.
• In September 1689, soldiers under Sir John's command took control of Trinity College Dublin. They also took a very old and important book called the Great Book of Lecan.

Life After the War

Sir John Fitzgerald was also at the Siege of Limerick (1691) in 1691. After this, he faced serious consequences for supporting King James II. He lost his title and his land.

Moving to France

In November 1691, Sir John left Ireland and went to France. This event was part of what is known as the Flight of the Wild Geese, when many Irish soldiers and leaders left their home country.

Fighting for France

In France, Sir John continued his military career. He led a group of soldiers called the Régiment de Limerick, which was part of the Irish Brigade serving the French army.

• He fought in the Battle of Landen in 1693.
• He also fought for France in Italy in 1696 and near the Rhine River in 1697.

Family Life

In 1674, Sir John married a woman named Ellen. It is believed she was the daughter of Maurice Fitzgerald. We don't know if they had children, but Ellen was still alive in 1703. Sir John Fitzgerald passed away on May 7, 1712.