Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin

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Desmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin (13 July 1937 – 14 September 2011),[1][2] was an Irish author, hereditary knight[3] and president of the Irish Georgian Society.

Career

The son of Desmond FitzGerald, 28th Knight of Glin (1901–1949), and Veronica Villiers (daughter of Ernest Villiers, M.P.),[2] FitzGerald was born in Paddington, London, England into an old Anglo-Irish aristocratic family in County Limerick[4] and was educated at the University of British Columbia and Harvard University. He worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, in the furniture department.[3]

He later returned to Ireland, and became active in conservation issues, becoming involved with the Irish Georgian Society. He was appointed its president in 1991. He has also represented the Christie's art auctioneers in Ireland.[5] He died in Dublin in 2011.[4]

Family

He was originally married to Loulou de la Falaise for a brief period. In 1970 he married his second wife, Olda Ann Willes, daughter of Major Thomas and Georgina Willes. His three daughters are: landscape designer Catherine, who married actor Dominic West in 2010 and was previously married to Ned Lambton, Nesta, and Honor. At the time of his death he had four grandchildren – Dora, Senan, Francis, and Rose, as well as step-granddaughter Martha.

Title

FitzGerald was the last Black Knight; as he had no sons and the title cannot be passed to a daughter, the title was extinguished with his death.[6] A similar title, the Knight of Kerry, is held by his distant cousins.

Glin Castle

FitzGerald divided his time between Glin Castle, Glin, County Limerick, which he inherited as a child, and his Dublin townhouse.[3][7]

He devoted his life to restoring the belongings of the castle, which had been sold due to previous financial difficulties, and rebuilding and finishing the remaining parts of the estate including the Georgian house that had remained incomplete for centuries.[5]

Ancestry

Family of Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin
16. John FitzGerald, 25th Knight of Glin
8. Desmond FitzGerald, 26th Knight of Glin
17. Clara Blennerhassett
4. Desmond FitzGerald, 27th Knight of Glin
18. Michael Apjohn
9. Isabella Apjohn
2. Desmond FitzGerald, 28th Knight of Glin
20. Edwin Wyndham-Quin, 3rd Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
10. Windham Wyndham-Quin, 4th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
21. Florence Goold
5. Lady Rachel Wyndham-Quin
22. Lord Charles Kerr
11. Florence Kerr
23. Charlotte Hanmer
1. Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin
24. Thomas Villiers
12. Charles Villiers
25. Charlotte Harte
6. Ernest Villiers
26. William Daniel-Tyssen
13. Florence Tyssen-Amherst
27. Amelia Amherst
3. Veronica Villiers
28. Sir John Guest, 1st Baronet
14. Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne
29. Lady Charlotte Bertie
7. Hon. Elaine Guest
30. John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough
15. Lady Cornelia Spencer-Churchill
31. Lady Frances Vane

References

  1. ^ Announcement of death of Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin, rte.ie; accessed 1 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b FitzGerald family information
  3. ^ a b c Profile, newyorksocialdiary.com; accessed 1 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b Obituary, independent.co.uk; accessed 1 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Obituary: Desmond FitzGerald". The Telegraph. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  6. ^ Interview, independent.ie; accessed 1 May 2016.
  7. ^ Profile of Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin, thepeerage.com; accessed 1 May 2016.

Sources

  • Book about Desmond FitzGerald: The Last Knight: A Tribute to Desmond Fitzgerald, 29th Knight of Glin by Robert O'Byrne, Lilliput Press, September 2013; ISBN 9781843514084.

External links

Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by President of the Irish Georgian Society
1991–2011
Succeeded by
Titles of nobility (Ireland)
Preceded by Knight of Glin
1949–2011
Succeeded by
none