William FitzGerald-de Ros, 23rd Baron de Ros

General William Lennox Lascelles FitzGerald-de Ros, 23rd Baron de Ros of Helmsley, PC, DL (1 September 1797 – 6 January 1874), was a British soldier and Conservative politician. A general in the Army, he also held political office as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in 1852 and between 1858 and 1859.

Background

Fitzgerald-de Ros was born at Thames Ditton, Surrey, the third son of Lord Henry FitzGerald, fourth son of James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster and Lady Emily Lennox. His mother was Charlotte FitzGerald-de Ros, 21st Baroness de Ros, while Henry FitzGerald-de Ros, 22nd Baron de Ros, was his elder brother. Through his paternal grandmother he was a descendant of King Charles II.

Military career

As a younger son, de Ros embarked upon a military career, joining the Life Guards as a cornet on 29 March 1819. He subsequently became a lieutenant on 24 August 1821, a captain on 23 October 1824, a major on 5 June 1827 and a lieutenant-colonel on 8 September 1831. In July 1835, de Ros and the Earl of Durham travelled to the Black Sea for half a year to investigate Russian military preparations. He was appointed a Gentleman Usher Quarter Waiter to Queen Victoria in 1836, but had surrendered the post by 1839, when he inherited the barony of de Ros on the death of his eldest brother (a middle brother, Arthur, had...
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