Geoffrey FitzClarence, 5th Earl of Munster
Encyclopedia
Sir Geoffrey William Richard Hugh FitzClarence, 5th Earl of Munster KBE
PC
(17 February 1906 – 26 August 1975), was a British
peer and Conservative
politician.
Munster was the son of Major the Hon. Harold Edward FitzClarence, seventh son of William FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of Munster
. His great-grandfather George Augustus Frederick FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster, was the eldest illegitimate son of King William IV
by his mistress Dorothy Jordan. Munster's mother was Frances Isabel Eleanor Keppel. He succeeded his uncle as fifth Earl of Munster in 1928 and took his seat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords
. In 1934 he was appointed a Lord-in-Waiting
(government whip in the House of Lords) in the National Government
of Ramsay Macdonald
, a post he held until 1938, the last three years under the premiership firstly of Stanley Baldwin
and secondly of Neville Chamberlain
. In June 1938 Chamberlain appointed Munster Paymaster-General
, an office he held until January 1939, when he was made Under-Secretary of State for War
. He remained in this position until September 1939.
Munster returned to the government in January 1943 when Winston Churchill
appointed him Parliamentary Secretary for India and Burma, a post he held until October 1944, and then served as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
until July 1945 when Labour came to power. When Churchill became Prime Minister for a second time in 1951 Munster was appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
, an office he retained until 1954, and was then Minister without Portfolio
between 1954 and 1957. In 1954 he was admitted to the Privy Council
. Apart from his political career he was also Lord Lieutenant of Surrey
from 1957 to 1973.
Lord Munster married Hilary, only child of Edward Kenneth Wilson, in 1928. He died in August 1975, aged 69, and was succeeded in his titles by his second cousin Edward Charles FitzClarence, 6th Earl of Munster. Lady Munster died in 1979.
The FitzClarences belonged to the House of Hanover
as its junior and illegitimate branch. All male-lines of George FitzClarence's descendants became extinct when the last and 7th Earl of Munster
died in 2000. His line descended from the 1st Earl's third son, Captain the Hon. George FitzClarence. Female-line descendants of William IV's (and also of other 9 of the King's illegitimate children) continue to exist.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(17 February 1906 – 26 August 1975), was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Munster was the son of Major the Hon. Harold Edward FitzClarence, seventh son of William FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of Munster
William FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of Munster
William FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of Munster, was an English aristocrat, and the grandson of King William IV.-Family:...
. His great-grandfather George Augustus Frederick FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster, was the eldest illegitimate son of King William IV
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
by his mistress Dorothy Jordan. Munster's mother was Frances Isabel Eleanor Keppel. He succeeded his uncle as fifth Earl of Munster in 1928 and took his seat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In 1934 he was appointed a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
(government whip in the House of Lords) in the National Government
National Government 1931-1935
See also First National MinistryThe United Kingdom's National Government was composed of members of the following parties:*National Labour*Conservative Party*Liberal Party*Liberal Nationals...
of Ramsay Macdonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
, a post he held until 1938, the last three years under the premiership firstly of Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
and secondly of Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
. In June 1938 Chamberlain appointed Munster Paymaster-General
Paymaster-General
HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the United Kingdom. The Paymaster General is in charge of the Office of HM Paymaster General , which held accounts at the Bank of England on behalf of Government departments and selected other public bodies...
, an office he held until January 1939, when he was made Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
. He remained in this position until September 1939.
Munster returned to the government in January 1943 when Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
appointed him Parliamentary Secretary for India and Burma, a post he held until October 1944, and then served as Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
-Non-permanent and parliamentary under-secretaries, 1782-present:*April 1782: Evan Nepean*April 1782: Thomas Orde*July 1782: Henry Strachey*April 1783: George North*February 1784: Hon. John Townshend*June 1789: Scrope Bernard*July 1794: The Hon...
until July 1945 when Labour came to power. When Churchill became Prime Minister for a second time in 1951 Munster was appointed Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies was a junior Ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, subordinate to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and, from 1948, also to a Minister of State....
, an office he retained until 1954, and was then Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
between 1954 and 1957. In 1954 he was admitted to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. Apart from his political career he was also Lord Lieutenant of Surrey
Lord Lieutenant of Surrey
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. Since 1737, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Surrey.-Lord Lieutenants of Surrey:*William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton 1551–1553?...
from 1957 to 1973.
Lord Munster married Hilary, only child of Edward Kenneth Wilson, in 1928. He died in August 1975, aged 69, and was succeeded in his titles by his second cousin Edward Charles FitzClarence, 6th Earl of Munster. Lady Munster died in 1979.
Royal ancestry
This is Lord Munster's line of paternity from King William IV to him:- King William IVWilliam IV of the United KingdomWilliam IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
(1765 - 1837) - George FitzClarence, 1st Earl of MunsterGeorge FitzClarence, 1st Earl of MunsterGeorge Augustus Frederick FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster PC , was the eldest natural son of William IV of the United Kingdom and his long-time mistress Dorothy Jordan....
(1794 - 1842) - William FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of MunsterWilliam FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of MunsterWilliam FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of Munster, was an English aristocrat, and the grandson of King William IV.-Family:...
(1824 - 1901) - The Hon. Harold Edward FitzClarence (1870 - 1926)
- Geoffrey FitzClarence, 5th Earl of Munster (1906 - 1975)
The FitzClarences belonged to the House of Hanover
House of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
as its junior and illegitimate branch. All male-lines of George FitzClarence's descendants became extinct when the last and 7th Earl of Munster
Anthony FitzClarence, 7th Earl of Munster
Anthony Charles FitzClarence, Earl of Munster was the last Earl of Munster, Viscount FitzClarence and Baron Tewkesbury...
died in 2000. His line descended from the 1st Earl's third son, Captain the Hon. George FitzClarence. Female-line descendants of William IV's (and also of other 9 of the King's illegitimate children) continue to exist.
Titles and styles
- 17 February 1906 – 1 January 1928: Viscount Fitzclarence
- 1 January 1928 – 27 August 1975: The Right Honorable The Earl of Munster
Honours
British Honours- KBE: Knight Commander, Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 1957 - PC: Privy Councillor, 1954