Reference: Wikipedia - Robert FitzGerald, 17th Knight of Kerry

Robert FitzGerald, 17th Knight of Kerry (1717 – 5 December 1781)[1] was an Irish politician, barrister and hereditary knight.

He was the second son of Maurice FitzGerald, 14th Knight of Kerry and his wife Elizabeth Crosbie, second daughter of David Crosbie.[2] He graduated with a Bachelor of Law and served then as Judge of the Admiralty Court.[3] In 1741, he entered the Irish House of Commons and sat for Dingle, the same constituency his older brother John had represented before, until his death.[1] In 1779, he succeeded his nephew Maurice as Knight of Kerry.[4]

In March 1746, FitzGerald married firstly Lucy Leslie, daughter of John Leslie.[5] She died only four years later[5] and he married secondly Catherine FitzGerald, second daughter of Thomas FitzGerald, 18th Knight of Glin in 1752.[6] After the death of his second wife in 1759,[6] FitzGerald married lastly Catherine Sandes, daughter of Lancelot Sandes in 1770 and had by her two sons and a daughter.[5] FitzGerald died in 1781 and was succeeded in his title by his older son Maurice.[4]