He attended Public School No. 1, and then entered the glassware business. Later he was for ten years a U.S. Customs officer. In 1897, he was appointed as an expert accountant in the office of the Commissioners of Accounts of New York City.
He early entered politics as a member of Tammany Hall, and was one of the organizers of the Timothy D. Sullivan Association. When his boss ran for Congress in November 1902, Fitzgerald was nominated to succeed to Sullivan's seat in the State Senate. Fitzgerald was a member of the New York State Senate (11th D.) from 1903 to 1906, sitting in the 126th, 127th, 128th and 129th New York State Legislatures.
He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co., 3rd D.) in 1912; and again a member of the State Senate (12th D.) in 1913 and 1914.
He died on June 26, 1928, at his home at 2453 Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn.
