Earl of Munster

Earldom of Munster
Arms of FitzClarence, Earl of Munster: The royal arms of King William IV (without the escutcheon of the Arch Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire and without the Crown of Hanover) debruised by a baton sinister azure charged with three anchors or[1]
Creation date4 June 1831
Created byKing William IV
PeeragePeerage of the United Kingdom
First holderGeorge FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster
Last holderAnthony FitzClarence, 7th Earl of Munster
Remainder tothe 1st Earl's heirs male whatsoever
Subsidiary titlesViscount Fitzclarence, Baron Tewkesbury
StatusExtinct
Extinction date30 December 2000
MottoNec Temere Nec Timide(Neither rashly nor fearfully)
George FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster.

Earl of Munster was a title that was created twice, once in the Peerage of Ireland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in 1789 in favour of Prince William, the third son of King George III. He was made Duke of Clarence and St Andrews at the same time. When William succeeded to the throne as King William IV in 1830 the titles merged with the crown.

The second creation came in the Peerage of the United Kingdom on 12 May 1831 for George Augustus Frederick FitzClarence, the eldest illegitimate son of William IV. He was made Viscount FitzClarence and Baron Tewkesbury at the same time.[2] The viscountcy was used as a courtesy title by the heir apparent to the earldom. The titles were created with remainder to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten.

Lord Munster's great-grandson, the fifth earl (who succeeded his uncle), was a prominent Conservative politician and held ministerial office under five prime ministers. He was succeeded by his second cousin, the sixth earl. He was the son of Brigadier GeneralCharles FitzClarence, VC (8 May 1865 – 12 November 1914), son of Captain the Hon. George FitzClarence, third son of the first earl. On the death of his son, the seventh earl, in 2000, the titles became extinct.

Earls of Munster; first creation (1789)

Earls of Munster; second creation (1831)

Male line family tree

Family of Earl of Munster
George FitzClarence1st Earl1794–1842
William FitzClarence2nd Earl1824–1901Hon. Frederick FitzClarence1826–1878Hon. Capt. George FitzClarence1836–1894Hon. Lt. Edward FitzClarence1837–1855
EdwardViscount FitzClarence1856–1870Hon. Lionel FitzClarence1857–1863Geoffrey FitzClarence3rd Earl1859–1902Hon. Arthur FitzClarence1860–1861Aubrey FitzClarence4th Earl1862–1928Hon. William FitzClarence1864–1899Hon. Harold FitzClarence1870–1926Capt. Edward FitzClarence1865–1897Brig.gen. Charles FitzClarence1865–1914Capt. William FitzClarence1868–1921Lionel FitzClarence1870–1936
Geoffrey FitzClarence5th Earl1906–1975Edward FitzClarence6th Earl1899–1983
Anthony FitzClarence7th Earl1926–2000

Arms

Coat of arms of the Earl of Munster
Crest
On a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Lion statant guardant crowned with a Ducal Coronet Or and gorged with a Collar Azure charged with three Anchors Gold.
Escutcheon
The Royal Arms of King William IV (without the Escutcheon of the Arch Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire, and without the Crown of Hanover) debruised by a Baton Sinister Azure charged with three Anchors Or.
Supporters
On the dexter side a Lion guardant ducally crowned Or, and on the sinister side a Horse Argent, each gorged with a Collar Azure charged with three Anchors Gold.
Motto
Nec Temere Nec Timide (Neither rashly nor fearfully)

See also

Notes

  1. ^Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.813; Crest: On a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Lion statant guardant crowned with a Ducal Coronet Or and gorged with a Collar Azure charged with three Anchors Gold. Supporters: On the dexter side a Lion guardant ducally crowned Or, and on the sinister side a Horse Argent, each gorged with a Collar Azure charged with three Anchors Gold.
  2. ^"No. 18803". The London Gazette. 13 May 1831. p. 923.

References

  • Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
  • Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages