Thomas FitzGerald Earl of Desmond
d. 1468
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Thomas FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond, Lord Deputy of Ireland, was suddenly attainted and beheaded at Drogheda in February 1468 by the king's deputy Tiptoft, the Butcher of England - a judicial killing that stunned Anglo-Ireland, was never explained to anyone's satisfaction, and was never forgiven by his house. He had married Ellice Barry, the Viscount Buttevant's daughter, and the line runs on through their son James.
Research notes
✓ THOMAS FITZGERALD, EARL OF DESMOND (7th/8th by varying counts), LORD DEPUTY, BEHEADED AT DROGHEDA 15 Feb 1467/8; m. Ellice, da. of the Viscount Buttevant (Barry, note-only; so given on the GO MS 168 p.129 chart); father of James (our line). Source: CP 'Fermoy' pp.327 + the standard Desmond succession (numbering follows identity; the earls' ordinals vary between authorities because of the 1462 usurpation); contested rungs note-only.