John Forster FitzGerald

Field Marshal Sir John Forster FitzGerald, ( 1785 – 24 March 1877) was a soldier from Ireland who served as an officer in the British Army. He fought in the Peninsular War, seeing action at the Battle of Badajoz, the Battle of Salamanca and the Battle of Vitoria and commanding a brigade during the Battle of the Pyrenees before being captured by the French Army. He became Commandant of Quebec and then went on to be Commandant of Montreal, Quebec. He was given command of the 20th Regiment of Foot in Bombay before being given a divisional command in the Madras Army but shortly afterwards transferring to Bombay where he was given a divisional command of the Bombay Army. He later became a Whig Member of Parliament.

Career Born the son of Edward FitzGerald and his second wife, a daughter of Major Thomas Burton, FitzGerald was commissioned as an ensign in Captain Shee's independent company of foot, then based in Ireland, on 29 October 1793. Promoted to lieutenant in January 1794, he transferred to the 46th Regiment of Foot with the rank of captain on 31 October 1800. He subsequently transferred to the newly formed New Brunswick Fencibles on 9 July 1803 and was promoted to brevet major on 25 September 1803.

FitzGerald fought in the Peninsular War, seeing action at the Battle of Badajoz in March 1812, the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812 and the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813.

After remaining with his regiment in Ireland for two years, FitzGerald was sent to Gibraltar in 1816 and to Canada in 1818. he went on to be Commandant of Montreal, Quebec. and being advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 13 September 1831. He was given a divisional command in the Madras Army in 1838 and but shortly afterwards transferred to Bombay where he was given a divisional command of the Bombay Army. Returning to the United Kingdom in early 1841, he was promoted to lieutenant-general on 23 November 1841 and to full general on 20 June 1854.

FitzGerald was also colonel of the 85th Regiment of Foot (Bucks Volunteers), of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and then of the Royal Irish Regiment. He represented County Clare in Parliament on behalf of the Whig Party from 1852 to 1857. and promoted to field marshal on 29 May 1875. Having retired to France, FitzGerald decided, at an advanced age, to become a convert to the Catholic Church. Anne FitzGerald (c.1808-1882) who married Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot, 2nd Baronet Captain John Forster FitzGerald (1820–1848)

Following the death of his first wife, FitzGerald married Jean Ogilvy in 1839; they had children, including William Walter Augustine Fitzgerald but no further details are recorded.