Biography of Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare 1421-1478

Around 1421 Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare was born to John Fitzgerald 6th Earl of Kildare -1427 and Margaret Herne Countess Kildare (age 36).

In 1421 [his mother] Margaret Herne Countess Kildare (age 36) died. Sometimes described as 1412 but her son was born in 1421.

In 1427 [his father] John Fitzgerald 6th Earl of Kildare -1427 died. His son Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare (age 6) succeeded 7th Earl Kildare.

On 16 Oct 1432 Gerald Fitzgerald 5th Earl of Kildare -1432 died. She was buried at Grey Abbey, County Kildare. His uncle [his father] John Fitzgerald 6th Earl of Kildare -1427 succeeded 6th Earl Kildare.

Chronicle of Gregory 1445. 04 Oct 1445. Ande that same yere there was a pechyng i-made uppon the Erle of Ormounde (age 52) by the pryour of Kylmayn (age 24)¹ for certayne poyntys of treson, the whyche was takyn in to the kyngys grace, where uppon hyt lykyd oure soverayne lorde (age 23) to graunte a generalle pardon unto the sayde Erle (age 52). But nevyrtheles the sayde pryour (age 24) appayryde in Smethefylde [Map] the iiij day of the monythe of October, as hyt was apoyntyde, fulle clenly harnyssyd, redy whythe alle hys fetys and whythe alle hys wepyns, kepynge the fylde tylle hyghe none.

Note 1. Thomas Fitzgerald (age 24) grandson of Thomas Earl of Kildare, was at this time Prior of the Knights of St. John at Kilmainham in Ireland.

Around Jan 1456 [his son] Gerald Fitzgerald 8th Earl of Kildare was born to Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare (age 35).

Around 1458 [his son] Thomas Fitzgerald was born to Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare (age 37).

In 1468 Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond and Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare (age 47) attended Parliament in Drogheda [Map] to answer charges of treason. Both were found guilty and attain. Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond sought sanctuary in Drogheda Priory [Map] where he was captured by John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40). On 14 Feb 1468 Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond was summarily beheaded. He was buried initially in St Peter's Church Drogheda [Map] then Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Dublin [Map]. Some accounts claim John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40) also murdered two of his young sons. Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare (age 47) escaped and was subsequently pardoned and attainder reversed when King Edward IV found Ireland was ungovernable without him. In 1470 Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare (age 49) was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland under George York 1st Duke of Clarence (age 28) which position he held until the Duke's death in 1478.

On 25 Mar 1478 Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Kildare (age 57) died. His son [his son] Gerald Fitzgerald 8th Earl of Kildare (age 22) succeeded 8th Earl Kildare.

[his father] John Fitzgerald 6th Earl of Kildare -1427 and [his mother] Margaret Herne Countess Kildare were married. She by marriage Countess Kildare. He the son of Thomas Fitzgerald 2nd Earl of Kildare -1328 and Joan Burgh Countess Kildare.