Lord Otho FitzGerald
Encyclopedia
Lord Otho Augustus FitzGerald PC
(10 October 1827 – 19 November 1882) was a British soldier and Liberal
politician. He notably served as Comptroller of the Household
under William Gladstone between 1868 and 1874.
, by his wife Lady Charlotte Augusta Stanhope, daughter of General Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington
. Charles FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster
, was his elder brother.
and served as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. He entered the House of Commons in 1865 as member for Kildare
, a seat he held until 1874. In 1866 he was sworn of the Privy Council
and made Treasurer of the Household
under Lord Russell
, a post he only held until the fall of the Liberal government in June of that year. He returned to office as Comptroller of the Household
under William Gladstone in 1868, a post he retained until the government fell in 1874.
Apart from his military and political careers he was also an amateur composer
and photographer.
Charles Bridgeman and widow of Lord Londesborough
, on 14 December 1861. This was regarded by his contemporaries as a fortune-hunting match. They had two children:
Fitzgerald for a while he owned Oakley Court
on the Thames, at Bray
in Berkshire
. He died in November 1882, aged 55. Lady Otho FitzGerald only survived him by a year and died in November 1883. They are buried at St Andrew's Church, Clewer
.
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...
(10 October 1827 – 19 November 1882) was a British soldier and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician. He notably served as Comptroller of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
under William Gladstone between 1868 and 1874.
Background
FitzGerald was the third son of Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of LeinsterAugustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster
Augustus Frederick FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster, etc., PC, PC was an Irish peer and freemason, styled Marquess of Kildare from birth until 1804. He was born and died in Carton....
, by his wife Lady Charlotte Augusta Stanhope, daughter of General Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington
Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington
General Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington PC, PC , styled Viscount Petersham until 1779, was a British soldier. Stanhope is sometimes confused with an exact contemporary of his, the 3rd Earl Stanhope....
. Charles FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster
Charles FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster
Charles William FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster PC , styled Marquess of Kildare until 1874, was an Irish peer and politician.-Background:...
, was his elder brother.
Political career
Fitzgerald was an officer in the Royal Horse GuardsRoyal Horse Guards
The Royal Horse Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry.Founded August 1650 in Newcastle Upon Tyne by Sir Arthur Haselrig on the orders of Oliver Cromwell as the Regiment of Cuirassiers, the regiment became the Earl of Oxford's Regiment during the reign of...
and served as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. He entered the House of Commons in 1865 as member for Kildare
Kildare (UK Parliament constituency)
A former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland, returning two Members of Parliament.-Members of Parliament:-References:*The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith , 2nd edition edited by F.W.S. Craig *Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922, edited by B.M...
, a seat he held until 1874. In 1866 he was sworn of 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...
and made Treasurer of the Household
Treasurer of the Household
The position of Treasurer of the Household is theoretically held by a household official of the British monarch, under control of the Lord Steward's Department, but is, in fact, a political office held by one of the government's Deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons...
under Lord Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
, a post he only held until the fall of the Liberal government in June of that year. He returned to office as Comptroller of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. He was an ex officio member of the Board of Green Cloth, until that body was abolished in the reform of the local...
under William Gladstone in 1868, a post he retained until the government fell in 1874.
Apart from his military and political careers he was also an amateur composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and photographer.
Family
Lord Otho married Ursula Lucy Grace Bridgeman, daughter of Vice AdmiralVice-Admiral of the United Kingdom
The Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is an honorary office generally held by a senior Royal Navy admiral. Despite the title, the Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom is usually a full admiral. He is the official deputy to the Lord High Admiral, an honorary office vested in the Sovereign from...
Charles Bridgeman and widow of Lord Londesborough
Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough
Albert Denison Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough, KCH, FRS, FSA was a British Liberal Party politician and diplomat, known as Lord Albert Conyngham from 1816-49.-Early life and career:...
, on 14 December 1861. This was regarded by his contemporaries as a fortune-hunting match. They had two children:
- Major Gerald Otho FitzGerald (25 September 1862 – 20 March 1919), unmarried and without issue.
- Ina Blanche Georgie FitzGerald (12 January 1864 – 6 July 1910), married on 29 January 1885 Major Arthur Leopold Paget (19 August 1856 - 1 March 1906).
Fitzgerald for a while he owned Oakley Court
Oakley Court
Oakley Court is a Victorian Gothic country house set in overlooking the River Thames at Water Oakley in the civil parish of Bray in the English county of Berkshire. It was built in 1859 and is currently a luxury hotel. It has been often used as a film location.-History:The Court was built in 1859...
on the Thames, at Bray
Bray, Berkshire
Bray, sometimes known as Bray on Thames, is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. It stands on the banks of the River Thames, just south-east of Maidenhead. It is famous as the village mentioned in the song The Vicar of Bray...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. He died in November 1882, aged 55. Lady Otho FitzGerald only survived him by a year and died in November 1883. They are buried at St Andrew's Church, Clewer
Clewer
Clewer is an ecclesiastical parish and region of Windsor making up three wards of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.-History:...
.