Life
1830-1895 [William John Fitzpatrick; commonly Fitz-Patrick]; b. 31 Aug.,
Thomas St., Dublin; ed. Clongowes; son of successful merchant and associate
of O’Connell (Patrick Vincent, 1792-1865); wrote historical biographies,
depending on his private income; achieved controversial fame with Who
Wrote the Waverley Novels (1856), suggesting Sir Walter’s brother
Thomas; devoted to Lord Edward Fitzgerald; wrote The Sham Squire (1866;
1872; 1895) which relates the betrayal of Lord Edward and exposes the
Castle crew; sold 16,000 [var. 10,000] copies and is a source for much
lore of 1798; also Life, Times and Contemporaries of Lord Cloncurry
(1855); Lady Morgan (1860); Ireland before the Union (1870)
[vars. 1863, 1867]; The Life, Times, and Correspondence of The Rt.
Rev. Dr. Doyle [JKL] Bishop of Kildare, 2 vols. (Dublin:
Duffy 1861), Do., enl. edn. (Duffy 1880); Memoirs of Richard
Whateley [Archbishop of Dublin] (2 vols., 1864); Ireland
Before the Union (1867); Irish Wits and Worthies, including Dr.
[James] Lanigan (1873); [Friends, Foes, and Adventures
of] Charles Lever (2 vols., 1879); ed., The Liberator, Correspondence
of Daniel O’Connell (2 vols., 1888), leading to papal recognition
with the Order of St Gregory the Great, bestowed by Leo XVIII; The
Secret Service Under Pitt (1892); The Life of Very Rev. Thomas
N. Burke, O.P. (1894); Memories of Father Healy (1899); posthumously,
ed., by his son, History of Dublin Cath. Cemeteries (1900); d.
48 Fitzwilliam Sq., Dublin, 24 Dec. CAB DNB JMC DIB DIW DIH DIL OCIL
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Works
The Sham Squire, and the Informers of 1798, with jottings about Ireland
Seventy Years Ago , with Mr. Dickson’s Narrative, the Cullen Papers,
&c. [enl. edn.] (Dublin: Kelly 1872), and rep. (Dublin: Gill 1892);
[W. J. Fitz-Patrick], Secret Service Under Pitt (London: Longmans,
Green 1892); Curious Family History, or Ireland Before the Union
(Dubln: James Duffy 1880); Fitzpatrick, ‘The Sham Squire’
(Dublin: MH Gill 1895) [cited D. Torchiana, Backgrounds to Joyce’s
Dubliners, 1986]
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Criticism
Cheryl Herr, For the Land They Loved (Syracuse UP
1991).
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Notes
British Museum holds The life, times, and correspondence of
Dr. Doyle, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin [enl. edn.] 2 vol. Dublin: 1861);
another edn., 2 vols. (Dublin: J. Duffy & Son 1880)
Belfast Public Library holds Curious Family Histor[y] ...Ireland before the Union (1870); History of Dublin Cath. Cemeteries (1900); Irish Wits and Worthies, including Dr. [James] Lanigan (1873); [Friends, Foes, and Adventures of] Lady Morgan (1860); Charles Lever, 2 vols. (1879); The Life of Very Rev. Thomas Burke (1894); Life, times and co[n]temporaries of Lord Cloncurry (1855); Life of ... Rev. Dr. Doyle, 2 vols. (1861); Memoirs of Richard Whateley, 2 vols. (1864); Memories of Father Healy (1899); Secret Service Under Pitt [cited in Hangman’s Hill, Donn Byrne]; Sham Squire, and the informers of 1798 (1872).
Belfast Linen Hall holds Narrative of the career of Francis Higgins, who received the reward for the betrayal of Lord Edward Fitzgerald (1859); The Sham Squire (1866); Secret Service Under Pitt (1892) [Cornwallis Papers].
Ulster Univ. Library (Morris Collection) holds The Sham Squire and the Informers of 1798, with Jottings about Ireland a Century Ago (Gill 1895); Irish Wits and Worthies, including Dr. Lanigan, his life and times, with glimpses of stirring scenes since 1700 (1873).
Library of Herbert Bell, Belfast holds W. J. Fitz-Patrick, Irish Wit and Workers (Dublin 1873); The Sham Squire (Dublin n.d.); Secret Service Under Pitt (London 1892); The Life of Very Revd. Thos. N. Burke OP (London 1894).
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)