Earl of Munster

Earl of Munster is a title that was created twice, once in the Peerage of Ireland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in 1789 in favour of Prince William, the third son of King George III. He was made Duke of Clarence and St Andrews at the same time. When William succeeded to the throne as King William IV in 1830 the titles merged with the crown.

Earldom of Munster
Arms of FitzClarence, Earl of Munster: The royal arms of King William IV (without the escutcheon of the Arch Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire and without the Crown of Hanover) debruised by a baton sinister azure charged with three anchors or
Creation date	4 June 1831
Created by	King William IV
Peerage	Peerage of the United Kingdom
First holder	George Fitzclarence
Last holder	Anthony Fitzclarence
Remainder to	the 1st Earl's heirs male whatsoever
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Fitzclarence, Baron Tewkesbury
Status	Extinct
Extinction date	30 December 2000
Motto	Nec Temere Nec Timide (Neither rashly nor fearfully)

George FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster.

The second creation came in the Peerage of the United Kingdom on 12 May 1831 for George Augustus Frederick FitzClarence, the eldest illegitimate son of William IV. He was made Viscount FitzClarence and Baron Tewkesbury in the county of Gloucester at the same time. The viscountcy was used as a courtesy title by the heir apparent to the earldom. The titles were created with remainder to his brothers Frederick, Adolphus and Augustus.

Lord Munster's great-grandson, the fifth earl (who succeeded his uncle), was a prominent Conservative politician and held ministerial office under five prime ministers. He was succeeded by his second cousin, the sixth earl. He was the son of Brigadier General Charles FitzClarence, VC (8 May 1865 – 12 November 1914), son of Captain the Hon. George FitzClarence, third son of the first earl. On the death of his son, the seventh earl, in 2000, the titles became extinct.

Earls of Munster; first creation (1789)

• see Duke of Clarence and St Andrews

Earls of Munster; second creation (1831)

• George Augustus Frederick FitzClarence, 1st Earl of Munster (1794–1842)
• William George FitzClarence, 2nd Earl of Munster (1824–1901)
  • Edward Fitz-Clarence, Viscount FitzClarence (1856–1870)
• Geoffrey George Gordon FitzClarence, 3rd Earl of Munster (1859–1902)
• Aubrey FitzClarence, 4th Earl of Munster (1862–1928)
• Geoffrey William Richard Hugh FitzClarence, 5th Earl of Munster (1906–1975)
• Edward Charles FitzClarence, 6th Earl of Munster (1899–1983)
• Anthony Charles FitzClarence, 7th Earl of Munster (1926–2000)

Male line family tree

Family of Earl of Munster

George FitzClarence 1st Earl 1794–1842 William FitzClarence 2nd Earl 1824–1901 Hon. Frederick FitzClarence 1826–1878 Hon. Capt. George FitzClarence 1836–1894 Hon. Lt. Edward FitzClarence 1837–1855 Edward Viscount FitzClarence 1856–1870 Hon. Lionel FitzClarence 1857–1863 Geoffrey FitzClarence 3rd Earl 1859–1902 Hon. Arthur FitzClarence 1860–1861 Aubrey FitzClarence 4th Earl 1862–1928 Hon. William FitzClarence 1864–1899 Hon. Harold FitzClarence 1870–1926 Capt. Edward FitzClarence 1865–1897 Brig.gen. Charles FitzClarence 1865–1914 Capt. William FitzClarence 1868–1921 Lionel FitzClarence 1870–1936 Geoffrey FitzClarence 5th Earl 1906–1975 Edward FitzClarence 6th Earl 1899–1983 Anthony FitzClarence 7th Earl 1926–2000

Arms

Coat of arms of the Earl of Munster

Crest On a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Lion statant guardant crowned with a Ducal Coronet Or and gorged with a Collar Azure charged with three Anchors Gold. Escutcheon The Royal Arms of King William IV (without the Escutcheon of the Arch Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire, and without the Crown of Hanover) debruised by a Baton Sinister Azure charged with three Anchors Or. Supporters On the dexter side a Lion guardant ducally crowned Or, and on the sinister side a Horse Argent, each gorged with a Collar Azure charged with three Anchors Gold. Motto Nec Temere Nec Timide (Neither rashly nor fearfully)

See also

• Duchess of Munster

References

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages