John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare

The Right Honourable The Earl of Clare PC (Ire)
The 1st Earl of Clare.
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
In office 20 June 1789 – 28 January 1802
Monarch	George III
Preceded by	The Viscount Lifford
Attorney-General for Ireland
In office 29 Nov 1783 – 20 June 1789
Preceded by	The Viscount Avonmore
Succeeded by	The Viscount Kilwarden
Member of Parliament for Kilmallock
In office 1783–1790 Serving with John Armstrong
Preceded by	John Finlay William Christmas
Succeeded by	Charles Bury John Armstrong
Member of Parliament for Dublin University
In office 1778–1783 Serving with Walter Hussey-Burgh
Preceded by	Walter Hussey-Burgh Richard Hely-Hutchinson
Succeeded by	Lawrence Parsons Arthur Browne
Personal details
Born	1749 Donnybrook, Dublin, Kingdom of Ireland
Died	28 January 1802 (aged 53) 6 Ely Place, Dublin, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Resting place	St. Peter's Churchyard
Alma mater	Trinity College, Dublin Christ Church, Oxford
Profession	Lawyer, Politician
Religion	Church of Ireland

John FitzGibbon, 1st Earl of Clare PC (Ire) (c. 1749 – 28 January 1802) was Attorney-General for Ireland from 1783 to 1789 and Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1789 to 1802.

He was a controversial figure in Irish history, being described variously as a Protestant hardliner, a staunch anti-Roman Catholic, and an early advocate of political union between Ireland and Great Britain (which finally happened in 1801, shortly before his death). He is said to have been an early opponent of measures for Roman Catholic political relief (meaning the removal of some or all of the various forfeitures, civil penalties, and civil disabilities placed upon Catholics) in both Ireland and Great Britain, and may have been the first to suggest to George III that the King would violate his coronation oath if he consented to the admission of Catholics to Parliament.

FitzGibbon was born near Donnybrook, Dublin, the son of John FitzGibbon of Ballysheedy, County Limerick and his wife Isabella Grove, daughter of John Grove, of Ballyhimmock, County Cork. His father had been born a Catholic but converted to the state religion in order to become a lawyer, and amassed a large fortune.

He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and Christ Church, Oxford. He entered the Irish House of Commons in 1778 as Member for Dublin University, and held this seat until 1783, when he was appointed Attorney General. From the same year he represented Kilmallock until 1790. He was appointed High Sheriff of County Limerick for 1782.