Background
He was the only son of William Fitzmaurice, 2nd Earl of Kerry, and Lady Gertrude Lambart, daughter of Richard Lambart, 4th Earl of Cavan. His father died when he was only seven and he became a Ward in Chancery.
Master of Arts Marquess of Lansdowne
He was the only son of William Fitzmaurice, 2nd Earl of Kerry, and Lady Gertrude Lambart, daughter of Richard Lambart, 4th Earl of Cavan. His father died when he was only seven and he became a Ward in Chancery.
He was educated at the University of Dublin where he took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1758 and Master of Arts in 1759.
Nonetheless the inscription which he had placed on her tomb in Westminster Abbey makes it clear that he never regretted marrying her: it states that for 31 years she made him the happiest of mankind, due to her "charity, benevolence, truth, sincerity, meekness and simplicity". Having their way to fight up into good society, and having no children, they sold every acre of land that had been in our family since Henry II"s time". Lady Kerry died on 9 April 1799.
Her husband died in 1818 and was buried in the same tomb in Westminster Abbey.