Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Elizabeth FitzGerald, Lady Browne as played by Gemma-Leah Devereux

Born c. 1527 - died March 1590 Character's backstory: Elizabeth was born in Maynooth, Kildare, Ireland, a daughter of the 9th Earl of Kildare. Her maternal great-grandmother was Queen Consort Elizabeth Woodville(grandmother of Henry VIII). She first arrived with her mother in October 1533 and was brought up as a companion to the infant Princess Elizabeth Tudor. In 1534, her father, imprisoned in the Tower on corruption charges, died on 12 December.At the tender age of ten, the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey wrote about her as "The Fair Geraldine" in his sonnet The Geraldine.The poet was said to have been captivated by her childish beauty, and composed it while he was briefly imprisoned for striking a courtier. There is no truth to the rumour that they were lovers as she was only ten years old at the time. Author, Jessie Childs (Henry VIII’s Last Victim) suggests that his intent was to improve her chances of making a good marriage by praising not only her noble heritage but her beauty and virtues. Her younger brothers were raised alongside Prince Edward Tudor. She was sent to the household of Princess Mary Tudor in Hunsdon, following the execution of her half-brother "Silken Thomas" [known for his flamboyant clothing] and her five uncles for treason. She was an impoverished noblewoman dependent upon the Tudors. Some sources say Elizabeth was a maid of honor to Katherine Howard at the time Surrey wrote his poem, but there is no evidence to support this. She may, however, have been at court while Katherine was Queen.In 1543, at the age of 16, Elizabeth married Sir Anthony Browne (aged 60), following the death of his first wife Alice Gage. On 6 May 1548, Sir Anthony died, leaving Elizabeth a widow at the age of twenty-one. On 1 October 1552 she married her second husband, Edward Clinton. Elizabeth was a intimate friend of Queen Elizabeth I. She had two children by Browne, both of whom died young, and no children by Clinton. She died at age 63 and is buried in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle with her second husband. Gentility: Position: Maid of Honour, later Countess of Lincoln Personality type: Signature look: Endearing trait(s): Annoying trait(s):

" The Fair Geraldine" ~ as Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey immortalized her in his poem FROM Tuscane came my lady's worthy race; 'Fair Florence was sometime her ancient seat. The western isle whose pleasant shore doth face Wild Camber's cliffs, did give her lively heat. Foster'd she was with milk of Irish breast : Her sire an Earl, her dame of Prince's blood. From tender years, in Britain doth she rest, With Kinges child ; where she tasteth costly food. Hunsdon did first present her to mine eyen : Bright is her hue, and Geraldine she hight. Hampton me taught to wish her first for mine ; And Windsor, alas ! doth chase me from her sight. Her beauty of kind ; her virtues from above ; Happy is he that may obtain her love!' ~ by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey Click EasyEdit to update this page! (Don't see the EasyEdit button above? <a href="../#signin" target="_self">Sign in</a> or <a href="../accountnew" target="_self">Sign up</a>.)

CHARACTER CONNECTIONS Family members: Father: Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare (1493 - 2 Sep 1534); son of Gerald 'Gerrat Mor' FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare and Alison FitzEustace. Mother: Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kildare (1497 - 1548); daughter of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset and Cecily Bonville, Baroness Harrington Paternal Great-Grandfather: John Grey, 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby (1432 - 1 May 1464) Paternal Great-Grandmother: Elizabeth Woodville (1437 - 7 Jun 1492); Queen Consort of England to King Edward IV. Paternal Great-Grandfather: William Bonville, Baron Harrington Maternal Great-Grandmother: Catherine Neville, Baroness Hastings (1442- before 22 November 1503); daughter of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury and Alice Montagu (making her a direct descendant of the Kings and Queens of England, like the Parr family). Brother: Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare (25 Feb 1525 - 16 Nov 1585); married Mabel Browne and had issue. Brother: Edward FitzGerald (abt 1528 - 1597); married Alice Leigh and had issue. His son carried on the title of Earl of Kildare as 14th Earl of Kildare. Brother: Thomas FitzGerald. Half-Siblings through her father's 1st marriage to Elizabeth Zouche, Countess of Kildare: Half-Brother: Thomas 'Silken Thomas' FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare (abt 1513 - 3 Feb 1537); married Frances Fortescue, no issue. Half-Sister: Mary FitzGerald, Queen Consort of Ui Failghe (? - abt 1596); married Brian MacCathaoir O'Conner and had issue. Half-Sister: Catherine FitzGerald, Viscountess Gormanston (? - ?); married Jenico Preston, 3rd Viscount of Gormanston and had issue. Half-Sister: Alice FitzGerald (abt 1508 - May 1540); married James Fleming, 9th Baron Slane Cousins: King Henry VIII, Catherine Parr, Anne Parr, William Parr, Jane Seymour, Edward Seymour, Thomas Seymour, Prince Edward Tudor, Queen Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary Tudor, Katherine Howard, Anne Boleyn, George Boleyn, Thomas Boleyn, Elizabeth Boleyn nee Howard, Princess Elizabeth Tudor, Henry Howard Earl of Surrey, Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk, Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham, Elizabeth of York Queen of England, and more. Romance(s): Friends: Enemies:

UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES

DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES

PHOTOS

	Elizabeth FitzGerald painted by Steven van der Meulen in 1560, aged approx 33 years old
	1575