James FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond

James FitzJohn FitzGerald
Died	27 October 1558 Askeaton
Resting place	Tralee
Title	Earl of Desmond
Tenure	1536–1558
Nationality	Hiberno-Norman
Predecessor	John FitzGerald, de facto 12th Earl of Desmond and James FitzGerald, de jure 12th Earl of Desmond
Successor	Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond
Spouse(s)	Joan Roche Móre O'Carroll Caitríona Butler Evelyn Mór MacCarthy
Issue	Sir Thomas FitzGerald ("Tomás Ruadh") Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond Four daughters (unnamed in this article) Sir Séamus-Sussex Fitzgerald
Parents	John FitzThomas FitzGerald Móre O'Brien

James (Séamus) FitzJohn FitzGerald (died 27 October 1558) was an Irish nobleman, the second son of John FitzGerald, de facto 12th Earl of Desmond, and Móre O'Brien, daughter of Donogh O'Brien of Carrigogunnell, Lord of Pobble. He held the title of Earl of Desmond from 1536 until his death in 1558.

Beginning his tenure in alliance with rebellious groups in Ireland, the 14th Earl of Desmond eventually gained favour with the Crown, ultimately being appointed Lord Treasurer of Ireland in 1547, an office which he maintained until his death.

Immediately on the death of his grandfather in June 1536, James FitzGerald assumed the position and title of Earl of Desmond. In order to support his position, FitzGerald united with O'Brien of Thomond, the head of the discontented party in Ireland. The government, which had just suppressed the rebellion of Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare, resolved to attack him, and on 25 July 1536, Lord Leonard Grey, Lord Deputy of Ireland marched against him. Breaching the border of Cashel, Grey sought to separate FitzGerald from O'Brien, "so as we might have entangled but with one of them at once." Grey took possession of FitzGerald's castle in Lough Gur, the doors and windows of which had been carried away and the roof burned by the FitzGeralds. He gave the captured castle to Lord James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond.

FitzGerald "showed himself in gesture and communication very reasonable", and offered to deliver up his two sons as hostages, and to submit his claims to the earldom to the decision of Lord Grey. FitzGerald's claim was renewed in December of the same year. "And as far as ever I could perceive," wrote Grey to Thomas Cromwell in February 1537, "the stay that keepeth him from inclining to the king's grace's pleasure is the fear and doubt which he and all the Geraldines in Munster have in the Lord James Butler, both for the old malice that hath been betwixt their bloods, and principally for that he claimeth title by his wife to the earldom of Desmond."

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