Gearóid Mór FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare

Family

Gerald FitzGerald was a son of Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare, and his wife Jane Fitzgerald. He married his first wife, Alison, daughter of Rowland Eustace, Baron of Port Lester, with whom he had two children:

• Margaret († 1542), ∞ about 1485 Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormonde

In his second marriage he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Oliver St. John, with whom he had five more sons:

• James († 1537 ), of Leixlip, hung together with the 10th Earl of Kildare
• Richard ( † 1537 ), of Fassaroe hanged along with his brothers
• Oliver († 1537 ), hanged along with his brothers
• John († 1537 ), hanged along with his brothers
• Walter ( † 1537 ), hanged along with his brothers

Life

Gerald succeeded his father in 1477 as Earl of Kildare. By King Edward IV in 1481 he determined to Lord Deputy of Ireland. He received this office under Richard III. and Henry VII until he was released in 1494 accused of plotting against the crown, convicted in the Parliament in Drogheda and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Two years later the Earl was pardoned and employed again as Lord Deputy. In 1505 he fought against Chieftains in the south of Ireland to Knockdoe in County Galway, where he was wounded, of Henry VII but leave still in office, he finally succumbed to his injuries 1513th