Thomas FitzGerald 7th Earl of Kildare
d. 1477
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Thomas FitzGerald, seventh Earl of Kildare, Lord Deputy and Lord Chancellor of Ireland, began the long Kildare ascendancy that made his house the effective rulers of Ireland for two generations. He married Joan FitzGerald of the Desmond branch, and his son was the Great Earl himself, Gearoid Mor, of whom Henry VII is said to have concluded that since all Ireland could not rule this man, this man had better rule all Ireland.
Research notes
✓ DOCUMENTED (Wikipedia/CP; web-confirmed 25 Jul 2026): THOMAS FITZGERALD, 7TH EARL OF KILDARE (c.1421-1478), Lord Deputy/Lord Chancellor of Ireland; son of the 6th Earl. m. Joan FitzGerald (dau. of the 6th Earl of Desmond - Desmond Geraldine link, note-only). Father of the 8th Earl (our line). Direct ancestor. Added 25 Jul 2026. ||CP AUDIT 26 Oct 2026|| ✓ CP VII pp.225-8: 7th Earl, 's. and h. of John Cam'; esquire 1453-6, Justiciar 1454, 1461-70; founded the Franciscan house at Adare 1464 with his wife Joan; attainted Feb 1467/8 with his brother-in-law the Earl of Desmond, pardoned; Deputy to Clarence 1471-5; 'He m. Joan (disp. to m. anew 24 Jan. 1455/6, they having previously m. per verba de praesenti, though knowing that they were related within the prohibited degrees), da. of James (FitzGerald), 6th Earl of Desmond [I.], by Mary, da. of Ulick de Burgh, of Clanricarde. He d. 25 Mar. 1477' (date corrected from 1478), said to be bur. All Hallows, Dublin; 'His widow d. 1486'. Father corrected to John Cam 26 Oct 2026. Source: Complete Peerage 2nd edn vol. VII (1929), 'Kildare' pp.219-232, read 26 Oct 2026 (archive.org djvu text).