Fitzgerald, James Fitzmaurice
Fitzgerald, James Fitzmaurice (d. 1579). Fitzgerald was nephew of James, 13th earl of Desmond [I], and cousin of Gerald, the 14th earl. In 1569 he claimed the Desmond earldom for himself and launched a catholic crusade. Forced to submit in 1573, he went to the continent, hoping that the king of France or of Spain would claim the throne of Ireland. Pope Gregory XIII encouraged him in an expedition to Ireland and he landed at Dingle in 1579, and began fortifying Smerwick. But he was killed in an affray and the garrison at Smerwick was butchered by Lord Grey.
J. A. Cannon
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Fitzgerald, James Fitzmaurice
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Fitzgerald, James Fitzmaurice