Thomas FitzMaurice, 1st Earl Of Kerry

Thomas FitzMaurice, 1st Earl of Kerry, born in 1668, was an Irish peer and politician. He died on 16 March 1741. He was the son of William FitzMaurice, the 20th Baron Kerry, and Constance Long. In March 1696 or 1697, he succeeded his father to the barony of Kerry. Prior to April 1711, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland. On 17 January 1723, he was created Earl of Kerry and granted the subsidiary title of Viscount Clanmaurice, both in the Peerage of Ireland.

Throughout his life, FitzMaurice had military experience. Accounts from his grandson, Lord Shelburne, describe him as displaying courage and talent as a soldier, despite his reputation for having a temper. He was involved in a notable incident where he challenged John Methuen, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, to a duel and was reprimanded and briefly imprisoned for this act.

In terms of political career, FitzMaurice served as a member of the Irish House of Commons representing County Kerry from 1692 until 1697. His service in the Irish Parliament spanned the early years of his political involvement.

In his personal life, Thomas FitzMaurice married Anne Petty in 1692. Anne Petty (1671–1737) was the daughter of Sir William Petty, a scientist and philosopher, and Elizabeth Waller, the daughter of Sir Hardress Waller, Baroness Shelburne. Thomas and Anne had five children: William FitzMaurice, who became the 2nd Earl of Kerry; John Petty FitzMaurice, the 1st Earl of Shelbourne; Elizabeth, who married Maurice Crosbie, 1st Baron Brandon; Arabella Denny, who married Colonel Arthur Denny and was recognized as a philanthropist; and Charlotte, who married Sir John Colthurst, 1st Baronet of Ardrum.

FitzMaurice was the grandfather of William Petty Fitzmaurice, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1782 to 1783. Character assessments from Lord Shelburne, his grandson, portray FitzMaurice as a "tyrant," characterized by severity and inflexibility. Shelburne depicted him as obstinate and feared by both his family and servants. He also praised Anne Petty for her intelligence and strength, noting she was the only person capable of managing her husband. However, it is important to interpret Shelburne’s characterization with caution, as it was based primarily on second-hand accounts, given that he was less than four years old at the time of FitzMaurice’s death and may not have had direct memories of him.

No additional personal or educational details are provided beyond these core facts, and the information covers his family background, political career, military involvement, and familial relationships up to his death in 1741.