Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald, 1830 to 1925: a brief look at the man behind the Fitzgerald Collection and his friendship with Charles Dickens.
Compiled for Medway Archives Centre by Jean Lear, May 2020.
This exhibition features resources from Medway Archives Centre. We have extensive collections relating to the life and works of Charles Dickens.
If you would like to know more email malsc@medway.gov.uk.
Introduction to Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald exhibition
This exhibition is a brief look at the man behind the Fitzgerald Collection and his friendship with Charles Dickens.
Compiled for Medway Archives Centre by Jean Lear, May 2020.
Early life and first encounter with Dickens
Percy Hetherington Fitzgerald was born on 20 April 1830, the second son of Thomas Fitzgerald MP, of Fane House County Louth.
Working with Dickens
From an early age, Fitzgerald hero worshipped Dickens.
Gads Hill and Rochester
When Percy made his first visit to Gads Hill Place, Dickens drove an Irish jaunting car to meet him and his fellow guests from Higham station.
A love of dogs
One of the foundations of the friendship between Dickens and Fitzgerald was their mutual love of dogs.
Family matters
Dickens once thought of Fitzgerald as a suitable match for his daughter Mary.
Dickens the showman
Fitzgerald sometimes accompanied Dickens when he was on tour.
A fear of trains
When travelling with Dickens, Fitzgerald noticed that he often appeared uneasy during a train journey.
Fitzgerald’s legacy and literary output
Fitzgerald wrote widely about Dickens and other contemporaries.
Preserving the memory
But most of all Fitzgerald strove to promote, publish and conserve the works of Charles Dickens.
Sculpture
Fitzgerald also found time to learn and practice modelling in clay.
Conclusion
Fitzgerald's biography, 'Memoirs of Charles Dickens' was finally published in 1913, over 40 years after Dickens' death.