| Honorific-Prefix: | The Right Honourable |
| Peter George FitzGerald | |
| Order1: | 1st Baronet of Valentia |
| Term Start1: | 8 July 1880 |
| Term End1: | 6 August 1880 |
| Monarch1: | Queen Victoria |
| Predecessor1: | Created |
| Successor1: | Maurice Fitzgerald, 2nd |
| Order2: | 19th Knight of Kerry |
| Term Start2: | 7 March 1849 |
| Term End2: | 6 August 1880 |
| Monarch2: | Queen Victoria |
| Predecessor2: | Maurice FitzGerald |
| Successor2: | Maurice Fitzgerald, 2nd |
| Birth Date: | 15 September 1808 |
| Birth Place: | Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality: | Irish |
| Spouse: | Julia Hussey |
| Children: | 11 |
| Parents: | Maurice FitzGerald Maria la Touche |
Sir Peter George FitzGerald, 1st Baronet, 19th Knight of Kerry (15 September 1808 – 6 August 1880) was an Anglo-Irish nobleman.
Peter George FitzGerald was born on 15 September 1808 and was raised in the banking house of his maternal grandfather in Dublin. He was the eldest surviving son of the Right Hon. Sir Maurice FitzGerald, 18th Knight of Kerry (1774–1849) of Gleanleam, Valentia Island, County Kerry and his wife Maria, the daughter of the Right Honourable David la Touche of Marlay.[1]
Sir Peter entered the civil service and was appointed Vice-Treasurer of Ireland in the last ministry of Sir Robert Peel. In 1849, he succeeded his father and resided almost constantly on Valentia Island, devoting himself to the improvement of his estates, and the welfare of his tenantry. He especially earned the thanks of the people by the erection of substantial homesteads in place of the old and poorly-maintained cabins, with which the middleman system had covered the west of Ireland.[2] FitzGerald manifested a keen interest in all questions which had a practical bearing on the progress or prosperity of Ireland and, in contributions to The Times, he deprecated the censure which at that time and since was cast indiscriminately upon all Irish landlords.[1]
His own admirable personal qualities, his hatred of abuses, his engaging manners, and his generous nature, made him a great favourite with the Irish peasantry. His hospitality at Glanleam was enjoyed by the Prince of Wales and other distinguished guests. The Transatlantic telegraph cable had its British termination on his Valentia estates, and he evinced much public spirit and energy in connection with the successful laying of the cable.
Both his UK baronetcy and his hereditary Irish knighthood have been inherited by his successors.[3]
On 11 August 1838, FitzGerald married Julia Hussey, daughter of Peter Bodkin Hussey of Farranikilla House, County Kerry, a lineal descendant of the Norman family of Hoses, which settled on the promontory of Dingle in the thirteenth century. He and Lady Julia had four sons and seven daughters:[4]
FitzGerald was a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for County Kerry, and was High Sheriff of Kerry in 1849, and of County Carlow in 1875. On 8 July 1880, he was created a baronet of Valentia in the County of Kerry, in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.
Peter FitzGerald died on 6 August 1880. He was succeeded in his titles and estates by his eldest son, Captain Maurice FitzGerald, who became 2nd Baronet, 20th Knight of Kerry. Captain Fitzgerald served with distinction in the Anglo-Ashanti wars, being present at the battles of Amoaful, Becquah, and Ordahau, and at the capture of Coomassie.[1]
(Ireland)