Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster

Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster (1731-1814), known before 1747 as The Lady Emily Lennox, from 1747 to 1761 as The Countess of Kildare and from 1761 to 1766 as The Marchioness of Kildare, was the second of the famous Lennox sisters, daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and 2nd Duke of Lennox, and illegitimately descended from King Charles II of England.

In 1747, at the age of fifteen, she married the immensely wealthy James FitzGerald, 20th Earl of Kildare, and went to live in Ireland.

The marriage was a happy one, despite Lord Kildare's inability to be sexually faithful. The couple had nineteen children:

1. Lord George FitzGerald (b. 15 January 1748 - d. Richmond House, 26 September 1765), created Lord Offaly in 1761.
2. William Robert FitzGerald (b. Arlington Place, Piccadilly, London, 12 March 1749 - d. Carton House, Kildare, 20 October 1804).
3. Lady Caroline FitzGerald (b. 1750 - d. 1754).
4. Lady Emily Mary FitzGerald (b. 1752 - d. 1818), married Charles Coote, Baron Coote of Coolony and Earl of Bellamont. No issue.
5. Lady Henrietta FitzGerald (b. 1753 - d. 1763).
6. Lady Caroline FitzGerald (b. and d. 1755).
7. Lord Charles James FitzGerald (b. 30 June 1756 - d. 30 June 1810), created Baron Lecale of Ardglass in 1800. Had issue.
8. Lady Charlotte Mary Gertrude FitzGerald (b. 1758 - 1836), married Joseph Holden Strutt. Had issue.
9. Lady Louisa Bridget FitzGerald (b. 1760 - d. 1765).
10. Lord Henry FitzGerald (b. 30 July 1761 - d. 8 July 1829), Lord FitzGerald, he was a General; married Charlotte Boyle and had issue, who take by inheritance the surname "de Ros".
11. Lady Sophia Sarah FitzGerald (b. 1762 - d. 1845).
12. Lord Edward FitzGerald (b. 1763 - d. 1798).
13. Lord Robert Stephen FitzGerald (b. 1765 - d. 2 January 1833), a Diplomat; married Sophia Charlotte Fielding and had issue.
14. Lord Gerald FitzGerald (b. 1766 - d. 1788). Drowning, went down with the ship in which he was serving.
15. Lord Augustus FitzGerald (b. 1767 - d. 1771).
16. Lady Fanny FitzGerald (b. 1770 - d. 1775).
17. Lady Lucy Anne FitzGerald (b. 1771 - d. 1851), married Admiral Thomas Foley. No issue.
18. Lady Louisa FitzGerald (b. 1772 - d. 1776).
19. Lord George Simon FitzGerald (b. 1773 - d. 1783). Recognized as son of Lord Kildare, but in fact was the biological son of his brother's tutor, William Ogilvie.

Lord Kildare was created successively Marquess of Kildare and Duke of Leinster in recognition of his contribution to the political life of his country. It was partly the Duke's influence that led to a rift between the Duchess and her eldest sister, Caroline Fox, Baroness Holland. After his death in 1773, the Duchess caused a minor sensation by marrying her children's tutor, William Ogilvie, with whom she had begun an affair some years earlier in Frescati House. Despite her remarriage she continued to be known as The Dowager Duchess of Leinster. Ogilvie was nine years her junior, and was the natural father of her youngest son from her first marriage. A further three children were born to them after their marriage:

1. Cecilia Ogilvie (b. 1775 - d. ?), married Charles Lock
2. Charlotte Ogilvie (b. and d. 1777).
3. Emily Charlotte (b. 1778 - d. 1832), called "Mimie"; married with Charles George Beauclerck, great-grandson of the 1st Duke of St.Albans and had issue.

Several of the Duchess's children predeceased her. One of her sons was Lord Edward FitzGerald, a major figure in the republican movement, who was killed during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

References

Tillyard, Stella. Aristocrats: Caroline, Emily, Louisa, and Sarah Lennox, 1740-1832. London: Chatto & Windus, 1994.

Trivia

In 1999, a 6-part miniseries based on the lives of Emily Lennox and her sisters aired in the U.K. It was called Aristocrats. [1]