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| 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[1] | |
| 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) |
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.
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.[2] 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.
- ^ Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.813; 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. 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.
- ^ "No. 18803". The London Gazette. 13 May 1831. p. 923.