Thomas FitzWilliam, 4th Viscount FitzWilliam (c.1640–1704) was an Irish nobleman and statesman; he was a leading Irish Jacobite, and a political figure of some importance during the Williamite War in Ireland.
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Background
He was the only son of William FitzWilliam, 3rd Viscount FitzWilliam and Mary Luttrell, daughter of Thomas Luttrell of Luttrellstown Castle. He was probably born at Dundrum Castle, where his parents lived in the early 1640s. After the Irish Rebellion of 1641 the FitzWilliams, who had previously been among the largest landowners in Dublin, were dispossessed of most of their lands. Thomas's father spent some years in France and fought for Charles I in England during the English Civil War, becoming Governor of Whitchurch. In 1655 William and his elder brother Oliver FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, having made their peace with the English Parliament, were allowed to recover part of the family estate. After the Restoration of Charles II the FitzWilliams, with their record of loyalty to the Crown, (apart perhaps from Oliver, who was accused of divided loyalties) were in high favour with the new regime, and recovered the remainder of their lands including their main seat, Merrion Castle. Thomas' father succeeded to the Viscountcy in 1667 and Thomas himself succeeded three years later (the Earldom became extinct on Oliver's death). He also inherited considerable estates in County Westmeath from his maternal uncle Thomas Luttrell.