Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/51

 in Ireland, and published a volume of 'Addresses' delivered in that office. On his death the freemason brethren founded in his memory the 'FitzGibbon Memorial Gymnasium ' in the girls' school, the 'FitzGibbon Memorial Burse' in the boys' school, and the 'FitzGibbon annuity.'

He was also active in the affairs of the Church of Ireland, serving for many years on the diocesan board of patronage for Dublin, and proving his skill in debate in the general synod. He was chancellor of many diocesan courts and lay diocesan nominator for the archdiocese of Dublin. He was one of the chief promoters of, and a generous contributor to, 'The Auxiliary Fund,' by which the great depreciation in the investments of the church and the poverty of the incumbents was supplemented. At his country house at Howth, FitzGibbon long entertained at Christmas parties of men of all kinds of distinction. In later years his regular visitors included [q. v. Suppl. II], provost of Trinity, Monsignor Molloy, John (Viscount) Morley, Mr. Arthur Balfour, Lords Roberts and Wolseley. But his most intimate friend among English politicians was Lord Randolph Churchill, whose acquaintance he first made at Dublin Castle in 1876, when Lord Randolph's father, the duke of Marlborough, was lord-lieutenant. Subsequently they constantly corresponded on frank and confidential terms. FitzGibbon wrote to Lord Randolph deprecating his acceptance of the chancellorship of the exchequer in 1886, and expressing a preference for Goschen.

FitzGibbon died at Howth on 14 Oct. 1909, and was buried in the graveyard attached to the old ruined church of St. Fintan at Howth. In the court of criminal appeal in England the lord chief justice expressed (15 Oct.) sympathy with the bench of Ireland on his death, describing him as 'a great judge, a profound lawyer, and a man of wide and varied learning' [The Times, 16 Oct. 1909). Such a reference to an Irish judge from the bench of England seems to have been unprecedented (Law Times, 23 Oct. 1909).

FitzGibbon married in 1864 Margaret Ann, second daughter of Francis Alexander Fitzgerald, baron of the exchequer in Ireland, and had issue three sons and four daughters. His eldest son, Gerald, is king's counsel in Ireland, being the third generation of the family to attain that honour.

Two portraits in oils by Walter Osborne, R.H.A., one in the Masonic girls' school, Dublin, the other at Howth, were presented by the Order to the school and to Mrs. FitzGibbon respectively. A full-length portrait was painted by Miss Harrison for the University Club, Dublin. A portrait in judicial robes for the banqueting hall of the King's Inns, by William Orpen, R.A., was subscribed for by the bench and bar of Ireland. A marble statue by A. Bruce Joy is to be placed in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

 FLEAY, FREDERICK GARD (1831–1909), Shakespearean scholar, born at Deptford Broadway on 5 Sept. 1831, was son of John Goss Fleay, linen-draper, by his wife Jane. Both parents were of Somerset families. Of seven children, three—two sons and a daughter — alone lived to maturity. Frederick, according to family tradition, was able to read at twenty months old. Entering, in 1843, King's College school, where Frederic Harrison was one of his companions, he rose to be captain, distinguishing himself alike in classics and mathematics. In Oct. 1849 he passed to Trinity College, Cambridge, his parents accompanying him in order to provide him with a home in the town. In his second year at Trinity he won an open mathematical scholarship, and after gaining several college prizes, graduated B.A. in 1853 as thirteenth wrangler, and sixth in the second class in the classical tripos. He was also placed third in the examination for Smith's prizes, and impressed the examiners with his aptitude for higher mathematics. Next year he obtained second place in the first class of the moral science tripos, and first place in the second class in the natural science tripos. Undergraduates dubbed him 'the industrious flea.' Despite the rare distinction of figuring in four tripos lists, Fleay just missed a fellowship at Trinity. He proceeded M.A. in 1856, and was ordained deacon in that year and priest in 1857.

Adopting a scholastic career, he was from 1856 to 1859 vice-principal of the Oxford 