SOCIETY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION: William Fitzgerald Esq of the Temple proposed 15.4.1791 by John Frost 2nded John Lodge Batley
William Fitzgerald, eldest son of Charles Fitzgerald of Ballyroan, Queens Co, Ireland who was admitted at the Middle Temple 10.8.1780. World 31.1.1791 William Fitzgerald Esq of Pump Ct, Middle Temple, on committee of Univrsal Dispensary. Law List 1792-8 counsel for Northern Circuit at Pump Ct, Middle Temple. Possibly member of Philomath Society, see Fitzgerald in Godwin Diary dataset. Old Bailey 8.12.1794 William Fitzgerald Esq master of the pleasure craft Tilberina at Mr Perry's dockyard at Blackwall, prosecuting Robert Smith for theft, was very likely him as the judge said "I am glad every prosecutor is not a barrister". His address was then Craven St and his brothers Wilson Fitzgerald and Edward Fitzgerald were both called as witnesses. His "Considerations on the book of Genesis" dedicated to Richard Watson DNB 1737-1816 bishop of Llandaff was published in 1800 (see Morning Chronicle 25.1.1800) and proposed that the book of Genesis was not the word of God. See historyof parliamentonline 1790-1820 Saltash and his letters to Earl Fitzwilliam in Sheffield Archies WWM/F/127/72 and WWM/F/66/114-7 which mention his arrest for assault in Exeter, his inventions of a soap for salt water and a vegetable silk, and request employment in England or Ireland. He could have been the prosecutor "lately come from Ireland" at Old Bailey 14.9.1814. He was quite possibly the William Fitzgerald, Irish Inspector General of Taxes who was accused of fraudulent behaviour (Nat Arch CUST 119/427-30) in 1816 to 1822. If so Belfast News Letter 31.3.1851 reported death of his widow Maria aged 67 at house of her son in law John Teeling Esq at Rathgar. See also Freemans Journal 16.3.1846 and Belfast Newsletter 12.6.1846 re Mrs Fitzgerald of Glenbrook, Ballyroan who evicted tenants and was threatened with violence.