Robert FitzGerald, 17th Knight of Kerry

Who was Robert FitzGerald, 17th Knight of Kerry?

Robert FitzGerald, 17th Knight of Kerry was an Irish politician, barrister and hereditary knight.

He was the second son of Maurice FitzGerald, 14th Knight of Kerry and his wife Elizabeth Crosbie, second daughter of David Crosbie. He graduated with a Bachelor of Law and served then as Judge of the Admiralty Court. In 1741, he entered the Irish House of Commons and sat for Dingle, the same constituency his older brother John had represented before, until his death. In 1779, he succeeded his nephew Maurice as Knight of Kerry.

In March 1746, FitzGerald married firstly Lucy Leslie, daughter of John Leslie. She died only four years later and he married secondly Catherine FitzGerald, second daughter of Thomas FitzGerald, 18th Knight of Glin in 1752. After the death of his second wife in 1759, FitzGerald married lastly Catherine Sandes, daughter of Lancelot Sandes in 1770 and had by her two sons and a daughter. FitzGerald died in 1781 and was succeeded in his title by his older son Maurice.