 This interest in orchids was maintained throughout his life and in 1869, 1871 and 1876 he visited Lord Howe Island to collect further botanical samples.It was during this time that he discovered "Dracophyllum fitzgeraldii F. Muell", which was later to be named in his honour.FitzGerald married Emily Blackwell, daughter of Edward Hunt, M.L.C., at Balmain in 1860.