Overview
Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 2nd Baron Upper Ossory (1535? – 11 September 1581), was educated at the court of Henry VIII of England with Edward, Prince of Wales. While he was in France, he corresponded regularly with King Edward VI. He was active in suppressing Wyatt's rebellion in 1553. He went home to Ireland, where he would have a lifelong feud with the Earl of Ormonde. His wife and daughter were abducted in 1573 by the Grace family, supposedly at Ormonde's instigation. He killed his cousin, the rebel Rory O'More in 1578.
Early life
Fitzpatrick was the eldest son and heir of Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 1st Baron Upper Ossory and Margaret, eldest daughter of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond. He was born in Ireland, probably about 1535. Sent at an early age into England as a pledge of his father's loyalty, he was educated at court, where he became the closest companion of Edward, Prince of Wales, later Edward VI, with whom he was to remain on close terms until the death of the latter. He was among the chief mourners at the funeral of King Henry VIII, the father of Edward. On 15 August 1551 he and Sir Robert Dudley were sworn two of the six gentlemen of the King Edward's privy chamber.
In France
Edward, who continued to take a kindly interest in Barnaby, sent him the same year into France in order to perfect his education, sagely advising him to "behave himself honestly, more following the company of gentlemen, than pressing into the company of the ladies there". An amused Fitzpatrick replied "You make me think the care you take for me is more fatherly than friendly". Introduced by the Lord Admiral, Lord Clinton, to Henry II, he was by him appointed a Gentleman of the Chamber, in which position he had favourable opportunities for observing the course of French politics. On his departure on 9 December 1552, he was warmly commended for his conduct by Henry himself and the Constable Montmorency During his residence in France, Edward VI continued to correspond regularly with him
In England
On his return to England Fitzpatrick took an active part in the suppression of Wyatt's rebellion (1553). The same year, as transcribed in the Chronicle of Queen Jane by Nichols that "the Erle of Ormonde, Sir [blank] Courteney Knight, and Mr. Barnaby fell out in the night with a certayn priest in the streate, whose parte a gentyllman comyng by chance took, and so they fell by the eares; so that Barnabye was hurte.
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