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[1]
Creation date4 June 1831
Created byKing William IV
PeeragePeerage of the United Kingdom
First holderGeorge Fitzclarence
Last holderAnthony Fitzclarence
Remainder tothe 1st Earl's heirs male whatsoever
Subsidiary titlesViscount Fitzclarence, Baron Tewkesbury
StatusExtinct
Extinction date30 December 2000
MottoNec 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.[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.

Earls of Munster; first creation (1789)

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Earls of Munster; second creation (1831)

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Male line family tree

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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

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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

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Notes

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "No. 18803". The London Gazette. 13 May 1831. p. 923.

References

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