Thomas FitzWilliam, 4th Viscount FitzWilliam

Thomas FitzWilliam, 4th Viscount FitzWilliam (c.1640–1704) was an Irish nobleman and statesman; he was a leading Irish Jacobite, and a political figure of some importance during the Williamite War in Ireland.

Background

He was the only son of William FitzWilliam, 3rd Viscount FitzWilliam and Mary Luttrell.[1] He was probably born at Dundrum Castle, where his parents lived in the early 1640s. After the Irish Rebellion of 1641 the FitzWilliams, previously among the largest landowners in Dublin, were dispossessed of most of their lands. Thomas's father spent some years in France and fought for Charles I in England, becoming Governor of Whitchurch.[2] In 1655 William and his elder brother Oliver FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, having made their peace with Parliament, were allowed to recover part of the family estate. After the Restoration of Charles II the FitzWilliams, with their record of loyalty to the Crown, were in high favour with the new regime, and recovered the remainder of their lands including their main seat, Merrion Castle. Thomas' father succeeded to the Viscountcy in 1667 and Thomas himself three years later. He inherited considerable estates in County Westmeath from his maternal uncle Thomas Luttrell.

Religion and politics

Thomas's father was an open and devout Roman Catholic, who was attended at his death by several Catholic priests, and married his daughters into Catholic families.[3] Thomas shared his father's religious beliefs: according to tradition he gave money for the building of a Catholic church at Booterstown.

When James II succeeded to the throne Thomas enthusiastically supported his pro-Catholic policy and for the next few years he was a political figure of some importance. James appointed him to the Privy Council of Ireland, and made him a Commissioner of the Treasury. During the Williamite Wars he was given a military command: in 1691 he raised a troop for the relief of the Siege of Limerick but was defeated in a clash with Wiliamite forces.[4]

After the downfall of the Jacobite cause, Lord FitzWilliam was the subject of an Act of Attainder, but the attainder was later reversed, whether because of the family's record of loyalty to the Crown, or because of their wealth and influence, is unclear. He took his seat in the Irish House of Lords in 1695, but although he was willing to swear allegiance to William III, his conscience forbade him to join the Church of Ireland and he withdrew from the House.[4] No further action was taken against him and he died in full possession of his lands on 20 February 1704.

Family

Lord FitzWilliam married firstly Mary Stapleton, daughter of the leading Parliamentarian Sir Philip Stapleton: this was a somewhat surprising marriage, given the deep divisions on religion and politics between the two families.[4] They had one surviving son-

He married secondly Elizabeth Pitt, daughter of George Pitt of Strathfieldsaye; she was a distant cousin of William Pitt the Elder. They had one daughter-

References

  1. ↑ Cokayne Complete Peerage 2000 Reissue Vol 1, p. 287
  2. ↑ Ball, F. Elrington History of Dublin Alexander Thom and Co. 1902-1920 Vol.2 p. 20
  3. ↑ Ball, p.20
  4. 1 2 3 Ball, p. 21
  5. ↑ Cokayne p. 287
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