William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey

For the life peer Baron FitzGerald, see John FitzGerald, Baron FitzGerald.

William Vesey-FitzGerald, 2nd Baron FitzGerald and Vesey and 1st Baron FitzGerald, PC (24 July 1783 – 11 May 1843) was an Irish statesman.

He first entered parliament in 1820 as a member for Clare, which constituency he represented until 1828. His defeat is noteworthy in terms of Irish history because it led directly to Catholic Emancipation spearheaded by his successor, Daniel O'Connell as a result of his win. He briefly represented Lostwithiel in 1830 and then Ennis from 1831 until 1835, when he was made a peer. He was President of the Board of Trade under the Duke of Wellington (1828–1830) and President of the Board of Control under Sir Robert Peel (1841–1843). He inherited the title Baron FitzGerald and Vesey in the Peerage of Ireland from his mother Catherine in 1832, and was created Baron FitzGerald in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in his own right by Peel in 1835. As he had no legitimate issue, the latter title became extinct upon his death.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Edward O'Brien, Bt Augustine Fitzgerald	Member of Parliament for Clare with Sir Edward O'Brien, Bt 1818–1826, Lucius O'Brien 1826–1828 1818–1828	Succeeded by Lucius O'Brien Daniel O'Connell
Preceded by Jonathan Raine Charles Bertie Percy	Member of Parliament for Newport (Cornwall) with Jonathan Raine 1829-1830	Succeeded by Jonathan Raine John Doherty
Preceded by Viscount Valletort Edward Cust	Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel with Edward Cust 1830	Succeeded by Edward Cust Viscount Valletort
Preceded by William Smith O'Brien	Member of Parliament for Ennis 1831–1832	Succeeded by Sir Augustine Fitzgerald
Political offices
Preceded by Charles Long	Paymaster of the Forces 1826–1828	Succeeded by John Calcraft
Preceded by Charles Grant	President of the Board of Trade 1828–1830	Succeeded by John Charles Herries
Preceded by Charles Grant	Treasurer of the Navy 1828–1830	Succeeded by Thomas Frankland Lewis
Preceded by The Lord Ellenborough	President of the Board of Control 1841–1843	Succeeded by The Earl of Ripon
Honorary Titles
Preceded by Unknown	Lord Lieutenant of Clare 1831–1843	Succeeded by Unknown
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by (new creation)	Baron FitzGerald 1835–1843	Succeeded by (extinct)
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by Catherine Vesey	Baron FitzGerald and Vesey 1832–1843	Succeeded by Henry Vesey-FitzGerald