Edward FitzGerald-Villiers

Edward FitzGerald-Villiers was born around 1654 and died in January 1693. He was a member of the Villiers family, which was prominent in Anglo-Irish society. FitzGerald-Villiers was a soldier in the English Army and held the rank of Brigadier-General. He also served as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Queen's Regiment of Horse.

He was the eldest son of George Villiers, the 4th Viscount Grandison, and his wife Mary, who was the daughter of Francis Leigh, the 1st Earl of Chichester. His family background places him within the British aristocracy of the period.

In 1677, FitzGerald-Villiers married Katherine FitzGerald, who was the heiress to significant properties in County Waterford, Ireland. Upon marriage, he adopted the surname FitzGerald to reflect his inheritance from her family. Their children included John, who later became the 5th Viscount Grandison and the 1st Earl of Grandison, and William.

William FitzGerald-Villiers married Brigadier-General William Steuart, who died in 1736. Their daughter Mary married Brigadier-General William Steuart, the nephew of her stepfather, and was the mother of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham.

Edward FitzGerald-Villiers also had a political career; he served as a Member of Parliament representing County Waterford in the Irish House of Commons.

He passed away in January 1693. Following his death, his son John succeeded his grandfather as the 5th Viscount Grandison in 1699. In the same year, his widow Katherine was granted the title Viscountess Grandison, as if her late husband had inherited the viscountcy. Katherine later married General William Steuart.

References for FitzGerald-Villiers include various historical publications and peerage directories, such as John Burke’s "A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire" (1832), and genealogical sources like thepeerage.com.