Lord William FitzRoy

Admiral Lord William FitzRoy (1 June 1782 – 13 May 1857), was an officer of the British Royal Navy who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and also as a Member of Parliament.

Biography

Family background FitzRoy was the third son of Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, by his second wife, Elizabeth Wrottesley, the daughter of the Reverend Sir Richard Wrottesley, Bt.; he was also an uncle of Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy.

Naval career FitzRoy entered the Navy on 21 April 1794, on board the frigate , firstly serving under Captain William Bentinck, and following the battle of the Glorious First of June, under Captain Robert Stopford. He then served abroad the 74-gun , under Lord Hugh Seymour, following him into the 80-gun , and seeing action at the Battle of Groix on 23 June 1795.

After serving in the frigates , Captain Edward Foote; , Captain Lawrence Halsted; and , Captain the Hon. Arthur Kaye Legge, in February 1798 he rejoined Captain Foote on board , and was present at the action of 27 June 1798 when Seahorse captured the in the Strait of Sicily.

Despite being declared incapable of ever serving again as an officer, FitzRoy was restored to his former rank and seniority by the Prince Regent the following August, though he received no further employment in the Navy. Nevertheless, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 4 June 1815, promoted to rear admiral on 10 January 1837, and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 4 July 1840.

Personal life On 9 August 1816 he married Georgiana Raikes, the second daughter of Thomas Raikes and Charlotte, granddaughter of 2nd Earl of Nottingham. They had a son and three daughters, including: who married in 1849 Honourable Gertrude Duncombe (1827–1916), daughter of William Duncombe, 2nd Baron Feversham, and left three daughters and two sons. Sir Almeric William FitzRoy (1851–1935) was their son. Harriet Elizabeth FitzRoy (d.14 July 1875), who married in 1862 Colonel Michael Dawes Elizabeth Georgiana FitzRoy (d. 5 February 1868)

Admiral FitzRoy died at East Sheen, London, on 13 May 1857,