Vice-Admiral Charles James FitzGerald, 1st Baron Lecale PC (Ire) (30 June 1756 – 18 February 1810), styled Lord Charles FitzGerald between 1761 and 1800, was an Irish naval commander and politician.
FitzGerald was the third son of James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster, and Lady Emily, daughter of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and the second of the famous Lennox Sisters. He was the brother of William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster, Lord Henry FitzGerald and Lord Edward FitzGerald. Through his mother he was a great-great-grandson of King Charles II.[citation needed] There were 19 children in his family. His sister Lady Charlotte FitzGerald took the title of Baroness Rayleigh in 1821. His brother Lord Edward FitzGerald is known as the famous Irish revolutionary. One of his numerous brothers was Lord Robert Stephen FitzGerald who is known to be a British diplomat in Switzerland 1792–1795.[1]
Lord Lecale was twice married, the second time in London on 18 July 1808 to former Mrs. Julia Carton (died Courtlands, Devon, 6 May 1844), without issue. His only children, both illegitimate, were Henry FitzGerald, who died at sea, off Civitavecchia, on 14 September 1803, and Anna Maria FitzGerald who eventually married morganatically to the Hon. Algernon Percy (diplomat). Lecale converted 15th century warehouses in Ardglass, County Down into a castellated house, known as Ardglass Castle, at the end of the 18th century.[3] The castle is now the home of Ardglass Golf Club.[4] He died in the Castle in February 1810, aged 53, when the barony became extinct.[4] Lord Lecale's tomb is located in Bright parish church, which bears a memorial plate in his name.[4]