John FitzGerald, de facto 12th Earl of Desmond

John FitzGerald
Earl of Desmond
Tenure	1534-1536
Predecessor	Thomas FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Desmond
Successor	James FitzGerald, de jure 12th Earl of Desmond
Died	December 1536
Nationality	Hiberno-Norman
Spouse(s)	Móre O'Brien
Parents	Thomas FitzJames FitzGerald Ellice de Barry

Ireland in 1450, showing the Earldom of Desmond

John FitzGerald, de facto 12th Earl of Desmond (d. 1536) was the brother of Thomas FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Desmond. Upon his brother's death in 1534, John disputed the title to the earldom of his brother's grandson, James FitzGerald, de jure 12th Earl of Desmond. John died in 1536. His grandnephew, the de jure earl, died in 1540, and was succeeded by John's son, James FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond.

Alfred Webb tells us of this earl that he, "being supported by a large faction, was de facto [12th] Earl. This Sir John died about Christmas 1536."

Family of John FitzGerald, de facto 12th Earl of Desmond
Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond Aveline fitz Nicholas James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond Eleanor Butler Elizabeth Darcy Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond Mary de Burgh John FitzGerald, de facto 12th Earl of Desmond William Barry, 8th Baron Barry Ellice de Barry Ellen de la Roche