My wife's ancestors - Fitzwilliam - Contents

1st Baron Fitzwilliam

William Fitzwilliam, 1st Baron Fitzwilliam (see here), had issue:

William Fitzwilliam, 2nd Baron Fitzwilliam, had issue:

William Fitzwilliam, 1st Earl Fitzwilliam (in Irish peerage), had issue:

John Fitzwilliam, 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam, had issue:

William Fitzwilliam, 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam, born 1719,
mar Anne Watson-Wentworth,
1st Earl Fitzwilliam in English peerage,
died 1756, age 37 yrs,
had issue:

William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam (see here and here), born 1748,
succ 1756,
inherited the Watson-Wentworth seat, Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire, added to it,
Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland Dec 1794, with Grattan he wanted to offer total Catholic emancipation, and was recalled Mar 1795, before 1798 Rising,
Irish seat at Coollattin, Co.Wicklow, see [Irish Country Houses],
also rebuilt Carnew Castle, Co.Wicklow, see [Irish Country Houses],
failed to inherit the Irish Fitzwilliam estates 1816,
died 1833, age 85 yrs, having had issue:

1. Charles Fitzwilliam, 5th Earl Fitzwilliam, born 1786,
   succ 1833,
   ancestor of Sarah Ferguson,
   died 1857, age 71 yrs,
   had issue:
   1. Charles Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, MP.

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• After the 4th Earl:
  • Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire

• After Charles Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, MP:
  • Fitzwilliam, West Yorkshire.

• Title extinct 1979.

• In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's hero Mr. Darcy's full name is "Fitzwilliam Darcy". His mother is a Fitzwilliam, dau of the Earl (whose title is unidentified). His aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh, ne้ Fitzwilliam, is another daughter of the Earl.
• This would be written in the time of the prominent statesman, the 4th Earl Fitzwilliam. Whether Austen was inspired by this family, or whether she was just picking a random name, is not known.