Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/231

Fitzwilliam papers were bequeathed to them for this purpose. One considerable portion of the task was successfully executed, but after the death of all the three literary executors a number of Burke's papers came into the possession of Fitzwilliam. Accordingly in 1844 there appeared, in four vols., the 'Correspondence of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke between the year 1744 and the period of his decease in 1797. Edited by Charles William. Earl Fitzwilliam, and Lieut.-General Sir Richard Bourke, K.C.B.' In 1847 Fitzwilliam published a 'Letter,' addressed to a Northamptonshire rector, in which he recommended that Ireland should he extricated out of her difficulties by the application of imperial resources.

Fitzwilliam died at Wentworth House, Yorkshire, 4 Oct. 1867. His eldest son having predeceased him, he was succeeded as fourth earl in the peerage of the United Kingdom by his second son, William Thomas Spencer, viscount Milton, born in 1815, who sat in the lower house with only one intermission from 1837 to 1857. The fourth earl married, in 1838, Lady Frances Douglas, eldest daughter of the eighteenth Earl of Morton.

 FITZWILLIAM, EDWARD (1788– 1852), actor, was bomrnof Irish parents near Holborn in London on 8 Aug. 1788, In 1806 he was actor and property man with Trotter, manager of the theatres at Southend and Hythe. At Gosport in 1808 he was seen by Elliston, who engaged him for his theatre at Birmingham. As Hodge in 'Love in a Village' he made, at the West London Theatre, his first appearance in London. In 1813 he was a leading actor at the Olympic, under Elliston, with whom he migrated to the Royal Circus, subsequently known as the Surrey, his first part at this house being Humphrey Grizzle in 'Three and the Deuce.' Under the management of Thomas Dibdin [q. v.] he rose at this house to the height of his popularity, his best parts being Leporello, Dumbiedykes in the 'Heart of Midlothian,' Patch, Partridge in 'Tom Jones,' and Humphry Clinker. At the Surrey he met Miss Copeland [see ], whom on 2 Dec. 1822 he married. Fitzwilliam — who had once appeared at Drury Lane for the benefit of T. P. Cooke, playing Sancho in 'Lovers' Quarrels' and singing a song, 'Paddy Carey,' in which he was very popular — joined the regular company at that house 10 Nov. 1821 as O'Rourke O'Daisy in 'Hit Of Miss.' From this time his reputation dwindled. Padreen Gar in 'Giovanni in Ireland,' Loney Mactwolter in the 'Review,' and other Irish parts were assigned him. After a time he practically forsook the stage and became a comic vocalist at city entertainments. About 1845 he retired on an annuity from the Drury Lane Theatrical Fund, and died at his house in Regent Street 30 March 1862. In society, in which he was popular, he was known as 'Little Fitz.' He was about 5 ft. 3 in. in height, robustly built, and had a good-humoured characteristically Irish physiognomy. His son is noticed below.

[Genest's Account of the English Stage; Oxberry's Dramatic Biography, vol, ii.; Biography of the British Stage; Era newspaper, 4 April 1852; Era Almanack various years; Oxberry's Dramatic Chronology.]

 FITZWILLIAM, EDWARD FRANCIS (1824–1857), song-writer, born at Deal in Kent on 2 Aug. 1824, was the son of Edward Fitzwilliam, an actor [q. v.], by his wife, Fanny Elizabeth Fitzwilliam, actress [q. v.] He was educated at the Pimlico grammar school, at St. Edmund's College, Old Hall, Hertfordshire, and at the institution of L'Abbé Haffrénique at Boulogne. Sir Henry Bishop was his instructor in an elementary course of harmony, and for a few months he resided with John Barnett at Cheltenham studying instrumentation. When in his twenty-first year he composed a ‘Stabat Mater,’ which was performed at the Hanover Square Rooms on 15 March 1845, with much success. In October 1847 he was appointed by Madame Vestris musical director of the Lyceum Theatre, and remained there for two years. About this time he wrote a cantata entitled ‘O Incomprehensible Creator,’ which was performed at Hullah's concert, 21 May 1851. At Easter 1853 he became musical director of the Haymarket Theatre, and held that position until his death. His principal compositions were ‘The Queen of a Day,’ a comic opera, and ‘A Summer Night's Love,’ an operetta, both produced at the Haymarket. He also wrote the overture, act, and vocal music of the ‘Green Bushes’ for the Adelphi Theatre, the overtures and music of all the Haymarket pantomimes, and of many that were brought out at the Theatre Royal, Liverpool. The music of Perea Nena's Spanish ballets, ‘El Gambusino’ and ‘Los Cautivos,’ were entirely his composition. His works were distinguished by an intelligence which gave promise of great excellence had he lived to fully master the technicalities of his art. After suffering for two years from consumption, he died at 9 Grove Place, Brompton, London, 19 Jan. 1857, aged 33, and was buried (27 Jan.) in Kensal Green cemetery.