Background
Kildare was the son of George Fitzgerald, 16th Earl of Kildare, and Lady Jane Boyle, daughter of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork.
Kildare was the son of George Fitzgerald, 16th Earl of Kildare, and Lady Jane Boyle, daughter of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork.
He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1660. Kildare served as Governor of King"s County, County Kildare and Queen"s County. In 1661, he took his seat in the Irish House of Lords and was sworn of the Irish Privy Council.
He was active both in Parliament and in the Privy Council.
Kildare married Lady Elizabeth, daughter of John Holles, 2nd Earl of Clare, c. 1655.
He owned no property in Nottinghamshire, but in April 1660 he was elected Member of Parliament for East Retford in the Convention Parliament.