Sir Peter FitzGerald, 19th Knight of Kerry facts for kids

Sir Peter George FitzGerald, 1st Baronet, 19th Knight of Kerry (born September 15, 1808 – died August 6, 1880) was an important Irish nobleman. He held two special titles: the 1st Baronet of Valentia and the 19th Knight of Kerry. These titles were passed down through his family.

Early Life of Peter FitzGerald

Peter George FitzGerald was born in Dublin, Ireland, on September 15, 1808. He grew up in his grandfather's banking house. His father was Sir Maurice FitzGerald, 18th Knight of Kerry, who lived on Valentia Island in County Kerry. His mother was Maria la Touche.

Sir Peter's Career and Public Service

Sir Peter FitzGerald worked for the government. He became the Vice-Treasurer of Ireland under Prime Minister Robert Peel. This job involved managing money for the government in Ireland.

Improving Valentia Island

In 1849, Sir Peter took over his father's titles and lands. He spent most of his time on Valentia Island. He worked hard to make his family's estates better and to improve the lives of the people who lived there. He was especially praised for building strong, new homes for his tenants. Before this, many people lived in old, poorly kept cabins.

Sir Peter cared deeply about Ireland's progress. He wrote articles for The Times newspaper. In these articles, he defended Irish landlords. He felt that not all landlords deserved the criticism they were getting at the time.

His Character and Important Connections

People liked Sir Peter because he was kind and fair. He hated unfair practices and was very generous. These qualities made him popular with the Irish people. He often welcomed important guests to his home, Glanleam. One famous guest was the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.

Sir Peter also played a big part in a major project: the Transatlantic telegraph cable. This cable allowed messages to be sent across the Atlantic Ocean. The British end of the cable was on his land on Valentia Island. He showed great energy and public spirit in helping this important project succeed.

Both his titles, the Baronetcy and the Knight of Kerry, have been passed down to his family members after him.

Sir Peter's Family Life

On August 11, 1838, Sir Peter FitzGerald married Julia Hussey. She was the daughter of Peter Bodkin Hussey from County Kerry. Sir Peter and Lady Julia had a large family with four sons and seven daughters.

• Sir Maurice Fitzgerald, his eldest son, later became the 20th Knight of Kerry and the 2nd Baronet of Valentia.
• His daughters included Mary Emily Francis, Emily, Frances Caroline, Katharine, Elizabeth Anne, Julia Emma Isabella, and Eileen Gertrude.
• His other sons were Robert John La Touche FitzGerald, Peter David FitzGerald, and Brinsley John Hamilton FitzGerald.

Sir Peter was also a magistrate and a deputy-lieutenant for County Kerry. These roles involved keeping law and order and helping with local government. He served as the High Sheriff of Kerry in 1849 and of County Carlow in 1875. On July 8, 1880, he was given the special title of a baronet of Valentia. This was a new title created for him in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.

Death and Successor

Sir Peter FitzGerald passed away on August 6, 1880. His eldest son, Captain Maurice FitzGerald, inherited his titles and lands. Captain Maurice became the 2nd Baronet and the 20th Knight of Kerry. He was a brave soldier who fought in the Anglo-Ashanti wars.