DEATH OF THE EARL OF CLARE - We regret to announce the death of the Earl of Clare who after a protracted illness died on Saturday morning shortly after six o'clock, at his residence at Kensington. The Right Hon. Richard Hobart FITZGIBBON Earl of Clare Viscount Fitzgibbon of Limerick and Baron Fitzgibbon of Lower Connello County Limerick in the peerage of Ireland - also Baron Fitzgibbon of Sudbury, county of Devon, in Great Britain, was the second son of John, first Earl, Lord High Chancellor of Ireland, by Anne, second daughter of Mr. Richard Chapel WHALEY, of Whaley Abbey, county of Wicklow, and was born on the 2nd October, 1793. He married 11th July, 1825, Diana, eldest daughter of Mr. Charles Brydges WOODCOCK, whose former marriage with Mr. Maurice Crosbie MOORE was dissolved in the early part of that year. By his marriage he leaves surviving issue three daughters Lady Florence, married to Lord WODEHOUSE Lady Louisa, Married to the Hon. Herald Normanby DILLON and Lady Elinor, married to Mr. Francis Henry CAVENDISH.
The only son of the late earl, John Charles Henry, Viscount Fitzgibbon, a lieutenant in the 8th Hussars born in May 1829 was killed at the battle of Balaklava, in October, 1854. In default of male issue the title becomes extinct.Cavan Observer January 16, 1864
( Phew ... thats an involved family !
)
http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Cavan/1864/JAN.htmlTHE CLAIM TO A PEERAGE.
One or two reports having gained currency to the effect that
Lord FITZGIBBON who was supposed to have been killed in the Balaclava charge, had returned to England, he not having been shot dead, but taken prisoner, and, for an assault on a Russian officer, sent to Siberia. It has also been stated that since his return he had paid a visit to the Hounslow Barracks, where his regiment, the 8th Hussars, is stationed, and that Colonel MUSSENDEN and Quartermaster-Sergeant-Major HEFFERON (formerly Lord Fitzgibbon's servant) had identified him. This week inquiries have been made as to the truth of the statement relating to the visit to the barracks, and the reply was that no person representing himself as heir to the title of Lord Clare had been there. Moreover, Quartermaster-Sergeant-Major Hefferon and the late Trumpet-Major GRAY, who were in the C troop of the 8th Hussars when Lord Fitzgibbon took the place of Lord CARDIGAN's aide de camp (Captain LOCKWOOD), and led the troops down to the ever memorial charge, say they were close to him when, not long after the commencement of the charge, they saw him struck in the chest almost at the same moment by two bullets and they distinctly recollect his losing hold of his sword (which was prevented from falling to the ground by a strap which secured it to his arm), violently clasping his arms on his breast, and crying out - "Oh, my god, my God, I'm shot!" With what they believe to have been his dying breath, he exhorted his men not to linger, saying to them, "Go on." Thus everyone believed him to have died the death of a hero. He had ?25 in cash - which was part of ?50 served out on the morning of the charge for the C troop. It may be added that when the soldiers came back Trumpet-Major Gray and several others searched for his body, but it was never found. If Lord Fitzgibbon is really in this country, as alleged, the officers and men of the 8th Hussars who knew him wish to know why he has been so backward in calling upon them.
Cavan Weekly News
November 30, 1877
