Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers

Vice-Admiral Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers, FRS (26 May 1722 – 1 October 1778) was a British Royal Navy officer, hereditary peer, freemason and amateur astronomer.

Early life Ferrers was the second son of Hon Laurence Shirley (fourth son of Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers) and his wife, Anne.

Two weeks after the execution of his brother Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers in 1760, Ferrers took his seat in the House of Lords as the 5th Earl Ferrers. In 1763, King George III granted him the family estates, previously forfeit by his brother as a felon (much to the surprise of Casanova, then visiting London) and he began to transform the family seat of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire.

Naval career In about 1738 he joined the Royal Navy and rose through the ranks as a Second Lieutenant in 1741, First Lieutenant in 1746 and Post-Captain soon after. He was later promoted as a Rear Admiral in 1771 and Vice-Admiral in 1775.

Later life Ferrers was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire on 28 August 1761.

Due to persistent financial problems, he sold the estates of Astwell (including Astwell Castle) and Falcutt to Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple between 1774 and 1777.

Ferrers was keen on astronomy and owned his own orrery.