Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers

Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers PC (20 October 1650 – 25 December 1717)—known as Sir Robert Shirley, 7th Baronet, from 1669 to 1677 and Robert Shirley, 14th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, from 1677 to 1711—was an English peer and courtier.

Shirley was born at East Sheen, the third son of Sir Robert Shirley, 4th Baronet and his wife Catherine Okeover. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford. In March 1669, he inherited his baronetcy from his infant nephew, and received an M.A. from Oxford in 1669. Shirley was suggested as a candidate for Lichfield in 1677 by Thomas Thynne, husband of his second cousin Frances, but he preferred to accept a seat in the House of Lords, the barony of Ferrers of Chartley being called out of abeyance for him in December. He was also appointed a deputy lieutenant of Staffordshire shortly thereafter. In 1683, he was appointed high steward of Stafford, replacing the Duke of Monmouth.

At the coronation of King James II in April, Ferrers was assistant lord cupbearer. He was also the first colonel of The Princess Anne of Denmark's Regiment of Foot, raised in the summer of 1685, during the Monmouth Rebellion, but was removed in favor of James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick on 1 November 1686. In September 1687, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, He was also dismissed from the high stewardship of Stafford in February 1688. Under William III and Mary II, Ferrers was re-appointed as high steward of Stafford.

Ferrers was admitted to the Privy Council on 25 May 1699. He was retained in the Privy Council of Queen Anne, and was again assistant lord cupbearer at her coronation.

Is a very honest Man, a Lover of his Country, a great Improver of Gardening and Parking; a keen Sportsman, never was yet in Business, but is very capable; a tall, fair Man, towards sixty Years old.

After his second marriage to Selina Finch in 1699, he spent much of his time at a house he built in Twickenham, Heath Lane Lodge. On 3 September 1711, Lord Ferrers was created Earl Ferrers and Viscount Tamworth. On his death at Bath six years later, his earldom passed to his second (but eldest surviving) son Washington, whilst his barony passed to his granddaughter, Elizabeth, her father and elder brother having died in 1698 and 1714, respectively. Washington received the family's Northamptonshire estates in fee simple, while those in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire were to some extent encumbered by annuities to his four younger half-brothers and a jointure to the Dowager Countess Selina. She also received Heath Lane Lodge, which was then to go to her eldest son; he also inherited the Ettington Park estate near Stratford-on-Avon in Warwickshire, and he and his three full brothers were jointly left the Earl's Irish lands in County Monaghan. The estate of Garsdon in Wiltshire, inherited from the Washingtons, went to the Earl's third surviving son, Laurence.

Family On 28 December 1671, Shirley married the heiress, Elizabeth Washington (d. 2 October 1693) and they had ten sons and seven daughters: Hon. Robert Shirley (1673 – 1698 or 1699) Elizabeth Shirley (25 November 1674 – 10 October 1677), died three months before her father ascended to the peerage and so was the only one of her siblings not to receive a courtesy title Hon. Katherine Shirley (31 May 1676 – 18 August 1679), died before her father became an Earl and so never received the title of Lady Washington Shirley, 2nd Earl Ferrers (1677–1729) Lady Elizabeth Shirley (20 June 1678 – 7 March 1740), married Walter Clarges (d. 1723), younger son of Sir Walter Clarges, 1st Baronet. Lady Anne Eleanora Shirley (12 November 1679 – 1754) Lady Katherine Shirley (17 February 1680 – October 1736), unmarried Hon. Charles Shirley (9 April 1682 – 28 May 1682) Lady Dorothy Shirley (25 May 1683 – 3 April 1721), married John Cotes in 1700 Hon. Charles Shirley (21 June 1684 – 12 September 1685) Hon. Lewis Shirley (13 July 1685 – 1710), unmarried Hon. George Shirley (21 October 1686 – 1694) Lady Barbara Shirley (5 February 1687 – 7 November 1768), unmarried Hon. Ferrers Shirley (23 April 1689 – 25 June 1707) Hon. Walter Shirley (27 May 1690 – aft. 1694; died young) Henry Shirley, 3rd Earl Ferrers (1691–1745) Hon. Laurence Shirley (26 September 1693 – 1743), married Anne Clarges, daughter of Sir Walter Clarges, 1st Baronet, and had issue, including: Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers (1720–1760) V-Adm. Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers (1722–1778) Robert Shirley, 6th Earl Ferrers (1723–1787) Rev. Walter Shirley (1726–1786) R-Adm. Thomas Shirley (1733–1814)

In August 1699, Lord Ferrers married Selina Finch (d. 20 March 1762) and they had ten children: Hon. Robert Shirley (1700–1738) Lady Selina Shirley (2 July 1701 – 14 December 1777), married Peter Bathurst Lady Mary Shirley (20 November 1702 – 17 May 1771), married Charles Tryon, of Bulwick, and had issue, including William Tryon Hon. George Shirley (1704–1704) Capt. Hon. George Shirley (23 October 1705 – 22 October 1787), married Mary Sturt, sister of Humphrey Sturt, and had issue. They are ancestors of Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. Lady Frances Shirley (5 May 1707 – 15 July 1778), unmarried Lady Anne Shirley (24 May 1708 – 6 February 1779), married Sir Robert Furnese, 2nd Baronet Hon. Sewallis Shirley (1709–1765), married Margaret Rolle, 15th Baroness Clinton (1709–1781) Lady Stuarta Shirley (19 August 1711 – 31 December 1767), unmarried Hon. John Shirley (12 March 1712 O.S. – 15 February 1768), unmarried