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John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison

1684 – 1766

Anglo-Irish peer

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About John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison

Lived 1684 – 1766 (aged 81–82). John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison was a politician.

John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison, 5th Viscount Grandison (c.1684 – 14 May 1766) was an Anglo-Irish politician from the Villiers family.

Grandison was the son of Brigadier-General Hon. Edward FitzGerald-Villiers and Katherine FitzGerald. His father was the son of George Villiers, 4th Viscount Grandison, but had assumed the surname of FitzGerald following his marriage. As such, Grandison was also known as John FitzGerald. He was educated at Eton College and Magdalene College, Cambridge. He succeeded to his grandfather's viscountcy on 16 December 1699.

In 1704 he was the Governor of the City of Waterford. As his title was in the Peerage of Ireland, he was not barred from standing for the House of Commons of England. As such, he contested the rotten borough of Old Sarum in May 1705, where he tied with Charles Mompesson for the second seat. After a seven-month legal dispute, the House of Commons ruled in Mompesson's favour. In 1721, he was invested as a member of the Privy Council of Ireland and on 11 September that year was made Earl Grandison, of County Leitrim in the Peerage of Ireland.

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Important facts

Born
1684
Birth century
Occupation
Education
Eton College, Magdalene College
Positions held
Member of the Privy Council of Ireland
Also known as
John FitzGerald, 1st and last Earl Grandison

People in John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison?

Anglo-Irish peer

When was John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison born?

John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison was born in 1684.

When did John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison die?

John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison died on 14 May 1766.

What was John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison's occupation?

John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison was a politician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison

· Wikidata: Q16859315

· DBpedia: John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison. https://biography.guide/john-villiers-1st-earl-grandison/

MLA: "John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-villiers-1st-earl-grandison/.

Chicago: "John Villiers, 1st Earl Grandison." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-villiers-1st-earl-grandison/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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