Earl of Kerry

Baron Kerry is an ancient title in the Peerage of Ireland, named after County Kerry. It was created circa 1223 for Thomas FitzMaurice, Lord OConnello, son of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Llanstephan.

Earldom of Kerry
Creation date1723
Created byGeorge I of Great Britain
PeeragePeerage of Ireland
First holderThomas Fitzmaurice, 21st Baron Kerry
Present holderCharles Petty-Fitzmaurice, 9th Marquess of Lansdowne, 10th Earl of Kerry
Heir apparentSimon Petty-Fitzmaurice
Former seat(s)Convamore House
Arms

In 1325, Maurice FitzMaurice, 4th Baron Kerry, murdered Diarmaid Óg MacCarthy (son of Cormac Mór MacCarthy) in the courtroom at Tralee. For this act, Maurice was tried and attainted by the parliament in Dublin and his lands forfeited, but after his death they were restored to his brother John FitzMaurice, 5th Baron of Kerry.

The title was sometimes given as Baron Lixnaw (after Lixnaw) or Baron Kerry and Lixnaw. In a 1615 dispute with Baron Slane over precedence, it was claimed the title "Baron Lixnaw" was promoted by the rival Earl of Desmond, who wanted "Baron Kerry" to be a a courtesy title for his heir. The Privy Council of Ireland's ruling in the dispute referred to Baron Kerry as both "Lo[rd] of Kierry" and "Baron of Kierry and Licksnawe" [sic].[1]

In 1537, the eleventh Baron was created Baron Odorney and Viscount Kilmaule in the Peerage of Ireland. However, these titles became extinct on his death in 1541 while he was succeeded in the Barony of Kerry by his younger brother.

The twenty-first Baron was created Earl of Kerry in the Peerage of Ireland in 1723. His younger son John Petty Fitzmaurice was created the 1st Earl of Shelbourne in the Peerage of Ireland in 1753 and his son William Petty FitzMaurice, the 2nd Earl of Shelburne, who served as British prime minister from 1782 to 1783, was created Marquess of Lansdowne in 1784. In 1818 the latter's son, the third Marquess, succeeded his cousin as 4th Earl of Kerry and 24th Baron Kerry. Earl of Kerry has subsequently been used as a courtesy title by heirs of the Marquess.

Barons Kerry (1223)
  • Thomas Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron Kerry (died c. 1260) According to John O'Hart, his father was Maurice FitzRaymond, the fourth son of Raymond FitzGerald le Gros and Basilia de Clare[2]
  • Maurice Fitzthomas Fitzmaurice, 2nd Baron Kerry (died 1303)
  • Nicholas Fitzmaurice, 3rd Baron Kerry (died 1324)
  • Maurice Fitzmaurice, 4th Baron Kerry (died 1339)
  • John Fitzmaurice, 5th Baron Kerry (died 1348)
  • Maurice Fitzmaurice, 6th Baron Kerry (died 1398)
  • Patrick Fitzmaurice, 7th Baron Kerry (died c. 1410)
  • Thomas Fitzmaurice, 8th Baron Kerry (died 1469)
  • Edmond Fitzmaurice, 9th Baron Kerry (died 1498)
  • Edmond Fitzmaurice, 10th Baron Kerry (died 1543) resigned his estates to become a lay brother in Ardfert Abbey
  • Edmond Fitzmaurice, 11th Baron Kerry (died 1541) (created Viscount Kilmaule in 1537)

Viscounts Kilmaule (1537)
  • Edmond Fitzmaurice, 1st Viscount Kilmaule (died 1541) (extinct)

Barons Kerry (1223; Reverted)

Earls of Kerry (1723)

See Marquess of Lansdowne for further Earls of Kerry.

Sources
  • Brownhill, J. (1929). "Kerry, and Kerry and Lixnaw". In Cokayne, George Edward; Doubleday, H. A.; Howard de Walden, Lord (eds.). The Complete Peerage. Vol. VII (revised ed.). London: St Catherine's Press. pp. 201–216.

Citations
  1. "Notes of Ancient Records and Rolls for the Lord of Kiery, &c". Carew MS 600, p. 162. London: The National Archives. 1615.
  2. O'Hart, John (1923). "Redmond (No. 1)". Irish pedigrees; or, The origin and stem of the Irish nation. New York: Murphy & McCarthy. pp. 355–357.
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