FitzGerald, Edward, 1809-83, English man of letters. A dilettante and scholar, FitzGerald spent most of his life living in seclusion in Suffolk. His masterpiece, a translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, appeared anonymously in 1859 and passed unnoticed until Dante Gabriel Rossetti made it famous. Revised editions followed in 1868, 1872, and 1879. FitzGerald's Rubaiyat has long been one of the most popular English poems. Although actually a paraphrase rather than a translation of a poem by the 11th-century Persian poet Omar Khayyam, it retains the spirit of the original in its poignant expression of a philosophy counseling man to live life to the fullest while he can. Among FitzGerald's other works are Euphranor (1851), a Platonic dialogue, and Polonius (1852), a collection of aphorisms.

(born March 31, 1809, Bredfield, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, Eng.—died June 14, 1883, Merton, Norfolk) British writer. After graduating from Cambridge University, he lived chiefly in seclusion. He is best known for The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859), a free adaptation from Omar Khayyam's verses that is itself a classic of English literature. Many of its images, such as “A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and thou” and “The moving finger writes, and, having writ, moves on” have passed into common currency. He also freely translated Six Dramas of Calderón (1853).

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Peers of Ireland

The FitzGeralds are a Hiberno-Norman dynasty, and have been Peers of Ireland since at least the 13th century. The name is from the Norman language meaning 'the son of Gerald', with a cognate "fils", meaning 'son', in modern French. The main branches of the family are the FitzGeralds of Kildare (Earls of Kildare, later Marquesses of Kildare and now Dukes of Leinster and Premier Peers of Ireland) and the FitzGeralds of Desmond (Barons Desmond, later Earls of Desmond); see the articles on those titles for lists of people who have held them. The dynasty is also sometimes referred to as the Geraldines, and the name Geraldine can be a derivation of this adjective. Elizabeth FitzGerald (1527-89) was known as the "Fair Geraldine" from her surname. The most famous members of the dynasty include:

• Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond, "Gearóid Iarla" (14th century)
• Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, the "Wizard Earl" (1525-1585)
• Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond, rebel killed at Glenageenty 1583
• James FitzMaurice FitzGerald, the archtraitor (late 16th century)
• Edmund FitzGibbon, the White Knight (1552?-1608).
• Katherine FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond, known as the "old Countess of Desmond" (15th to 17th centuries).
• Lord Edward FitzGerald (1763–1798), Irish aristocrat and revolutionary.
• Lady Edward FitzGerald, known as "Pamela" (c. 1773–1831), wife of Lord Edward FitzGerald.

Other people

The surname FitzGerald is a translation of the Norman fils de Gérald, or son of Gerald (Gerald meaning "rule of the spear"). Variant spellings include Fitz-Gerald and the modern Fitzgerald. The name can also be used as two separate words Fitz Gerald

Those with the surname (except for those holding peerages, for which see above) include:

• Alexis FitzGerald, Snr (1916-1985), Irish politician.
• Alexis FitzGerald, Jnr (born 1945), Irish politician.
• Barry Fitzgerald (1888–1961), Irish actor.
• Brian Fitzgerald (born 1947), Irish politician.
• Charles Fitzgerald (1791–1887), Governor of Gambia; Governor of Western Australia.
• Ciaran Fitzgerald (born 1952), Irish rugby union player.
• Desmond FitzGerald (1888-1947), Irish revolutionary, poet and politician.
• Desmond FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, president of the Irish Georgian Society
• Edward FitzGerald, disambiguation
• Eithne FitzGerald (born 1950), Irish politician
• Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996), U.S. jazz singer.
• F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940), Irish-American novelist and short story writer.
• Frances FitzGerald (born 1940), U.S. Pullitzer prize-winning journalist.
• Frances Fitzgerald (born 1950), Irish politician.
• Frank Fitzgerald (1885–1939), U.S. governor of Michigan.
• Frankie Fitzgerald (born 1985), British actor.
• Garret FitzGerald (born 1926), seventh Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland.
• Gene FitzGerald (born 1932), Irish politician.
• Geraldine Fitzgerald (1913–2005), Irish-American actress.
• George FitzGerald (1851–1901), Irish physicist.
• Jack Fitzgerald, founder member of the Socialist Party of Great Britain
• James FitzGerald, (1818 - 1896), New Zealand politician.
• Jim Fitzgerald, (born 1926), American businessman and philanthropist
• Jennifer Fitzgerald (born 1932), U.S. diplomat and alleged lover of George H. W. Bush.
• Joan Fitz-Gerald, American politician
• John Fitzgerald, disambiguation
• John F. Fitzgerald, Mayor of Boston Massachusetts and grandfather of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
• John Fitzgerald Kennedy, United States president
• John D. FitzGerald, Irish economist
• Judith Fitzgerald (born 1952), Canadian poet.
• Kevin Fitzgerald, U.S. veterinarian; appeared on the television programme Emergency Vets.
• Larry Fitzgerald (born 1983), American football player.
• Lawrence J. Fitzgerald, NYS Treasurer 1886-1889
• Lewis Fitz-Gerald (born 1958), Australian actor and television director.
• LeMoine Fitzgerald (1890–1956), Canadian artist, a member of the Group of Seven.
• Michael G. Fitzgerald (1950-2006), film historian
• Michael J. Fitzgerald (born 1957), American author.
• Michael L. Fitzgerald (born 1937), Roman Catholic archbishop.
• Pamela Fitzgerald (born 1984), Irish camogie player.
• Pat Fitzgerald, U.S. football coach
• Patrick Fitzgerald (born 1961), U.S. attorney; special prosecutor in the CIA leak scandal.
• Penelope Fitzgerald (1916–2000), British poet, novelist and biographer.
• Peter Fitzgerald (born 1960), U.S. Senator for Illinois.
• Robert Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
• Ryan Fitzgerald (born 1976), Australian television presenter
• Ryan D. Fitzgerald, 9/11 Victim, World Trade Center.
• Sarah Fitz-Gerald
• Sean Fitzgerald
• Tara Fitzgerald (born 1967), British actress.
• Thomas Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
• William Fitzgerald (disambiguation)
• Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948), wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

See also

• FitzMartin
• FitzPatrick