Sir John Fitzgerald DL JP (1857 – 2 November 1930) was an Irish-born brewer and wine and spirit merchant,[1] who served as Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne from 1914 to 1915. Born in Tipperary, he was knighted in the 1920 New Year Honours for his services to Newcastle.[2] He founded the Sir John Fitzgerald pub chain[3] that bears his name and was still owned and operated by his descendants until it was purchased by Ladhar Leisure in December 2020.[4]

He was a prominent Roman Catholic and generous benefactor to church charities. He donated Fitzgerald Hall to the church for use as a children's centre in memory of his son, Lieutenant Gerald Fitzgerald, who was killed in the First World War.[5]

He left a fortune of in excess of £270,000 (equivalent to £18,160,000 in 2021), including £1,000 bequeathed to the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle for distribution to Catholic charities.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Biography, Who Was Who
  2. ↑ "No. 31712". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1919. p. 2.
  3. ↑ "Sir John Fitzgerald website". Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  4. ↑ Ford, Coreena (7 December 2020). "Crown Posada under new ownership as Sir John Fitzgerald pub group is acquired". ChronicleLive.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "Sir John Fitzgerald. Former Sheriff and Lord Mayor of Newcastle". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 3 November 1930. p. 4. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "Sir John Fitzgerald. Man Who Started Life as Barman Leaves £270,000". Belfast News-Letter. 23 February 1931. p. 9. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
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