FITZGERALD, Robert Uniacke (1751-1814), of Corkbeg and Lisquinlan, co. Cork.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1801 - 1806

Family and Education

b. 17 Mar. 1751, 1st s. of Robert Uniacke (afterwards Fitzgerald) of Corkbeg by 2nd w. Frances, da. of John Judkin of Greenhills, co. Tipperary. educ. M. Temple 1769. m. settlement 24 Aug. 1773, Louisa, da. of Rev. Richard Bullen of Rostellane, co. Cork, 1s. 10da. suc. fa. 1778.

Offices Held

MP [I] 1798-1800.

Clerk of Ordnance [I] 1799, surveyor-gen. 1801.

Gov. co. Cork 1805.

Col. N. Cork militia 1798-1807.

Biography

Col. Fitzgerald, described by Castlereagh as ‘inferior to no man in personal respectability’, strongly supported the Union as Member for county Cork in the Irish parliament. He was a ‘good Protestant’.1 At Westminster he generally supported government, although they found his absence, while in England, on the division of 4 Mar. 1803 ‘not manly’.2 He gave evidence to the corn committee on Irish distress early in 1801 and was considered an expert on Irish militia matters, intervening in debate in defence of the county basis of the militia bill, 15 Mar. 1803, after having been absent in June 1802 when the lord lieutenant thought he might have been of service. Hardwicke regarded him as something of an alarmist on the subject of Irish dissidence.3 In May 1804 it was thought his politics would be those of Lord Shannon, who had helped secure his return for the county, and he was subsequently listed as a supporter of Pitt’s second administration. The Grenville ministry were prepared to support his re-election in 1806, but he stood down and declined standing again in 1807.4 He died 20 Dec. 1814.5

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: Arthur Aspinall

Notes

  • 1. Castlereagh Corresp. ii. 85, 127; NLI, Shannon mss, Lady Shannon to Boyle, 9 Mar. [1802].
  • 2. Add. 35766, f. 321.
  • 3. Castlereagh Corresp. iv. 67; Add. 35701, f. 307; 35702, f. 76.
  • 4. Wellington mss, Longfield to Wellesley, 16 Mar. 1807.
  • 5. Gent. Mag. (1814), i. 415 gives his age at death as 78, but this is impossible. See Cork Hist. and Arch. Soc. Jnl. iii. 220.