Note 34 — GEORGE ROBERT FITZGERALD, COMMONLY CALLED ‘FIGHTING FITZGERALD.’
Reading edition
Some idea of the duelling that went on in Ireland in the latter part of last century may be gathered from the following extract from Sir Jonah’s book (vol. ii, p. 3): ‘I think I may challenge any country in Europe to show such an assemblage of gallant judicial and official antagonists at fire and sword as is exhibited even in the following list:
The Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Earl Clare, fought the Master of the Rolls, Curran.
The Chief Justice, K.B. Lord Clonmell, fought Lord Tyrawley (a privy counsellor), Lord Llandaff, and two others.
The judge of the county of Dublin, Egan, fought the Master of the Rolls, Roger Barrett, and three others.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. Isaac Corry, fought the Right Hon. Henry Grattan (a privy counsellor), and another.
A Baron of the Exchequer, Baron Medge, fought his brother-in-law and two others.
The Chief Justice, C. P. Lord Norbury, fought Fire-eater Fitzgerald and two other gentlemen, and frightened Napper Tandy, and several besides: one hit only.
The judge of the Prerogative Court, Dr. Dingenan, fought one barrister and frightened another on the ground. N.B.—The latter case a curious one.
The Chief Counsel to the Revenue, Henry Deane Grady, fought Counsellor O’Mahon, Counsellor Campbell, and others: all hits.
The Master of the Rolls fought Lord Buckinghamshire, the Chief Secretary, &c.
The provost of the University of Dublin, the Right Hon. Hely Hutchinson, fought Mr. Doyle, Master in Chancery, and some others.
The Chief Justice C. P. Patterson, fought three country gentlemen, one of them with swords, another with guns, and wounded all of them.
The Right Hon. George Ogle (a privy counsellor) fought Barney Coyle, a distiller, because he was a Papist. They fired eight shots, and no hit; but the second broke his own arm.
Thomas Wallace, K.C., fought Mr. O’Gorman, the Catholic Secretary.
Counsellor O’Connell fought the Orange chieftain; fatal to the champion of Protestant ascendency.
The collector of the customs of Dublin, the Hon. Francis Hutchinson, fought the Right Hon. Lord Mountmorris.
Two hundred and twenty-seven memorable and official duels have actually been fought during my grand climacteric.