Biography of James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond -1558

James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond was born to John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien.

In or before 1522 Richard Power 1st Baron Power (age 26) and [his future wife] Catherine Butler (age 15) were married. She the daughter of Piers "Red" Butler 8th Earl Ormonde 1st Earl Ossory (age 54) and Margaret Fitzgerald Countess Ormonde and Ossory. They were second cousin once removed.

Before 1531 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and Joan Roche were married. The date speculative. He the son of John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien. They were great uncle and niece.

Before 1532 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and Joan Roche marriage annulled. The date speculative. as is the reason; probably consangunity given that she was his great niece. In addition to repusiating his wife he also bastardised their son Thomas Ruadh FitzGerald of Conna whose grandson would claim the Earldom.

In or before 1532 [his son] Thomas Ruadh FitzGerald of Conna was born to James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and [his former wife] Joan Roche. Coefficient of inbreeding 6.36%.

In or before 1533 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and More O'Carroll were married. He the son of John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien.

Around 1533 [his son] Gerald Fitzgerald 14th Earl Desmond was born to James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and [his wife] More O'Carroll.

In December 1536 [his father] John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond died. His son James succeeded 13th Earl Desmond.

In 1547 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond was appointed Lord Treasurer of Ireland.

In 1548 [his wife] More O'Carroll died.

In or after 1548 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and Catherine Butler (age 42) were married. She the daughter of Piers "Red" Butler 8th Earl Ormonde 1st Earl Ossory and Margaret Fitzgerald Countess Ormonde and Ossory. He the son of John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

In 1551 [his son] Gerald Fitzgerald 14th Earl Desmond (age 18) and [his daughter-in-law] Joan Fitzgerald Countess Ormonde and Ossory (age 42) were married. No issue. A political marriage; the age difference being twenty-four years. She was the eldest daughter of James Fitzgerald 10th Earl Desmond. The marriage brought a temporary truce to the Desmond and Ormonde factions. The difference in their ages was 24 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of James Fitzgerald 10th Earl Desmond. He the son of James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and [his former wife] More O'Carroll. They were second cousins.

In or before 1553 [his son-in-law] John Power 3rd Baron Power (age 23) and [his daughter] Eleanor Fitzgerald were married. She the daughter of James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and [his former wife] More O'Carroll. They were half third cousins.

On 17th March 1553 [his wife] Catherine Butler (age 47) died.

After 17th March 1553 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and Evelyn MacCarthy Mor were married. He the son of John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien.

On 14th October 1558 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond died.

[his daughter] Honora Fitzgerald was born to James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and More O'Carroll.

[his daughter] Eleanor Fitzgerald was born to James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and More O'Carroll.

Hall's Chronicle. In this yere James erle of Desmond came to the kyng and was honorably entertained and wel rewarded. And in September the great Onele [Conn O'Neill 1st Earl Tyrone] came to the kyng to Grenewyche, where he and a capitaine of the North partes of Irelande called Magannysse and the Byshop of Cloar, made their submission in writing, confessyng their offences, and promisyng to serve the kyng and his Jheires truely: whiche submission by the kyng consydered, he upon the first daie of October created at Grenewyche the saied sir Eustace Onele called greate Onele (because he was the chiefe of his linage called Onele) Erle of Tereowen, commonly called Tyron and gave hym a great chayne, and made Magannysse and his cosyn knightes and gave them both chaynes, and he gave to the lord Mathias sonne to the erle, the Barony of Duncan.