Earl Ferrers
Encyclopedia
Earl Ferrers is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain
. It was created in 1711 for Robert Shirley, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley
. The Shirley family descends from George Shirley (died 1622) of Astwell Castle
, Northamptonshire
.
In 1611 he was created a Baronet, of Staunton Harold in the County of Leicester, in the Baronetage of England. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet. He married Lady Dorothy Devereux, daughter of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
. On the death of her brother Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
, she became the youngest co-heir to the baronies of Ferrers of Chartley and the barony of Bourchier, which had fallen into abeyance
on the death of the third Earl. Shirley was succeeded by his eldest son, the third Baronet. He died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Baronet. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London
by Cromwell
and died there in 1656. On his death the title passed to his eldest son, the fifth Baronet. He died at an early age and was succeeded at birth by his posthumous son, the sixth Baronet.
He died as an infant and was succeeded by his uncle, the seventh Baronet. In 1677 King Charles II
terminated the abeyance of the barony of Ferrers of Chartley in his favour and he became the thirteenth Baron Ferrers of Chartley
. His claim to the barony of Bourchier was overlooked, however. He later served as Master of the Horse
and as Lord Steward to the Queen Consort, Catherine of Braganza
, and was Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
. In 1711 he was created Viscount Tamworth, of Tamworth in the County of Stafford, and Earl Ferrers, in the Peerage of Great Britain. He was succeeded in the barony of Ferrers of Chartley by his granddaughter Elizabeth, wife of James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton
. She was the daughter of the first Earl's eldest son the Hon. Robert Shirley (1673–1698), who predeceased his father (see the Baron Ferrers of Chartley for further history of this title). Lord Ferrers was succeeded in the baronetcy, viscountcy and earldom by his second son, the second Earl. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire from 1725 to 1729. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire from 1731 to 1742.
He died unmarried and was succeeded by his nephew, the fourth Earl. He was the son of the Hon. Lawrence Shirley, third surviving son of the first Earl. Lord Ferrers killed Mr Johnson, his land-steward, was tried, condemned for murder and hanged at Tyburn
on 5 May 1760. He is the last British peer to die a felon's death. On his death the titles passed to his younger brother, the fifth Earl. He was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy
. He was childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the sixth Earl. His eldest son, the seventh Earl, died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the eighth Earl. When the latter died the titles passed to his grandson, the ninth Earl. He was the son of Robert William Shirley, Viscount Tamworth, eldest son of the eighth Earl. He was succeeded by his son, the tenth Earl. On his death in 1912 the line of the sixth Earl failed. The late Earl was succeeded by his third cousin, the eleventh Earl. He was the great-great-grandson of Reverend the Hon. Walter Shirley
, brother of the fourth, fifth and sixth Earls. the titles are held by his grandson, the thirteenth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1954. Lord Ferrers is a prominent Conservative
politician and held office in every Conservative administration from 1962 to 1997. He is a now one of the ninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the House of Lords
after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
.
The family seat is Ditchingham Hall
north of the village of Ditchingham
in south Norfolk
.
The earldom of Ferrers is the senior earldom in the Peerage of Great Britain.
The heir apparent
is the present holder's eldest son Robert William Saswalo Shirley, Viscount Tamworth (b. 1952)
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his eldest son the Hon. William Robert Charles Shirley (b. 1984)
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain after the Act of Union 1707 but before the Act of Union 1800...
. It was created in 1711 for Robert Shirley, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley
Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers
Sir Robert Shirley, 7th Baronet, of Staunton Harold, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, created 1st Earl Ferrers was an English peer and courtier....
. The Shirley family descends from George Shirley (died 1622) of Astwell Castle
Astwell Castle
Astwell Castle is a manor house in Northamptonshire, England about south-west of Wappenham. It is a listed building and part of the parish of Helmdon, a village west.-15th-16th century:...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.
In 1611 he was created a Baronet, of Staunton Harold in the County of Leicester, in the Baronetage of England. He was succeeded by his son, the second Baronet. He married Lady Dorothy Devereux, daughter of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG was an English nobleman and a favourite of Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, and a committed general, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599...
. On the death of her brother Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads...
, she became the youngest co-heir to the baronies of Ferrers of Chartley and the barony of Bourchier, which had fallen into abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
on the death of the third Earl. Shirley was succeeded by his eldest son, the third Baronet. He died unmarried and was succeeded by his younger brother, the fourth Baronet. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
by Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
and died there in 1656. On his death the title passed to his eldest son, the fifth Baronet. He died at an early age and was succeeded at birth by his posthumous son, the sixth Baronet.
He died as an infant and was succeeded by his uncle, the seventh Baronet. In 1677 King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
terminated the abeyance of the barony of Ferrers of Chartley in his favour and he became the thirteenth Baron Ferrers of Chartley
Baron Ferrers of Chartley
The title Baron Ferrers of Chartley was created on February 6, 1299 for John de Ferrers, son of Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby. The daughter of the 6th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, Anne, married Walter Devereux who was summoned to parliament as Lord Ferrers in her right. Their descendants...
. His claim to the barony of Bourchier was overlooked, however. He later served as Master of the Horse
Master of the Horse
The Master of the Horse was a position of varying importance in several European nations.-Magister Equitum :...
and as Lord Steward to the Queen Consort, Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
, and was Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant for Staffordshire. Since 1828, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Staffordshire:*Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford 1559...
. In 1711 he was created Viscount Tamworth, of Tamworth in the County of Stafford, and Earl Ferrers, in the Peerage of Great Britain. He was succeeded in the barony of Ferrers of Chartley by his granddaughter Elizabeth, wife of James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton
James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton
James Compton, 5th Earl of Northampton , known as Lord Compton from 1687 to 1727, was a British peer and politician.Northampton was the eldest son of George Compton, 4th Earl of Northampton, and his wife Jane...
. She was the daughter of the first Earl's eldest son the Hon. Robert Shirley (1673–1698), who predeceased his father (see the Baron Ferrers of Chartley for further history of this title). Lord Ferrers was succeeded in the baronetcy, viscountcy and earldom by his second son, the second Earl. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire from 1725 to 1729. He died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Earl. He was Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire from 1731 to 1742.
He died unmarried and was succeeded by his nephew, the fourth Earl. He was the son of the Hon. Lawrence Shirley, third surviving son of the first Earl. Lord Ferrers killed Mr Johnson, his land-steward, was tried, condemned for murder and hanged at Tyburn
Tyburn
Tyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
on 5 May 1760. He is the last British peer to die a felon's death. On his death the titles passed to his younger brother, the fifth Earl. He was a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He was childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the sixth Earl. His eldest son, the seventh Earl, died childless and was succeeded by his younger brother, the eighth Earl. When the latter died the titles passed to his grandson, the ninth Earl. He was the son of Robert William Shirley, Viscount Tamworth, eldest son of the eighth Earl. He was succeeded by his son, the tenth Earl. On his death in 1912 the line of the sixth Earl failed. The late Earl was succeeded by his third cousin, the eleventh Earl. He was the great-great-grandson of Reverend the Hon. Walter Shirley
Walter Shirley (clergyman)
Walter Shirley was an English clergyman, hymn-writer, and controversialist, of Calvinist and Methodist views.-Life:The fourth son of the Hon. Laurence Shirley and Anne, daughter of Sir Walter Clarges, bart., he was born at Staunton Harrold, Leicestershire, on 23 September 1725...
, brother of the fourth, fifth and sixth Earls. the titles are held by his grandson, the thirteenth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1954. Lord Ferrers is a prominent Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and held office in every Conservative administration from 1962 to 1997. He is a now one of the ninety elected hereditary peers that remain in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
.
The family seat is Ditchingham Hall
Ditchingham Hall
Ditchingham Hall is a country house and estate, near the village of Ditchingham in south Norfolk, England. It is the country house of Earl Ferrers. The current owner is Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers and former Conservative Party leader of the House of Lords...
north of the village of Ditchingham
Ditchingham
Ditchingham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is located across the River Waveney from Bungay, Suffolk near to The Broads National Park.- Overview :...
in south Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
The earldom of Ferrers is the senior earldom in the Peerage of Great Britain.
Shirley Baronets, of Staunton Harold (1611)
- Sir George Shirley, 1st Baronet (1559–1622)
- Sir Henry Shirley, 2nd Baronet (c. 1588–1633)
- Sir Charles Shirley, 3rd Baronet (1623–1646)
- Sir Robert Shirley, 4th Baronet (d. 1656)
- Sir Seymour Shirley, 5th Baronet (1647–1667)
- Sir Robert Shirley, 6th Baronet (1668–1669)
- Sir Robert Shirley, 7th BaronetRobert Shirley, 1st Earl FerrersSir Robert Shirley, 7th Baronet, of Staunton Harold, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, created 1st Earl Ferrers was an English peer and courtier....
(1650–1717) (confirmed as Baron Ferrers of Chartley in 1677 and created Earl Ferrers in 1711)
Earls Ferrers (1711)
- Robert Shirley, 1st Earl FerrersRobert Shirley, 1st Earl FerrersSir Robert Shirley, 7th Baronet, of Staunton Harold, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, created 1st Earl Ferrers was an English peer and courtier....
(1650–1717)- Hon. Robert Shirley (1673–1698)
- Washington Shirley, 2nd Earl Ferrers (1677–1729)
- Henry Shirley, 3rd Earl Ferrers (1691–1745)
- Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl FerrersLaurence Shirley, 4th Earl FerrersLaurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers was the last member of the House of Lords hanged in England.The 4th Earl Ferrers, descendant of an ancient and noble family, was the eldest son of Hon. Laurence Ferrers, himself a younger son of the Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers-a descendant of Robert...
(1720–1760) - Washington Shirley, 5th Earl FerrersWashington Shirley, 5th Earl FerrersVice Admiral Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers, FRS was a British Royal Navy officer, peer, freemason and amateur astronomer.-Biography:...
(1722–1778) - Robert Shirley, 6th Earl Ferrers (1723–1787)
- Robert Shirley, 7th Earl Ferrers (1756–1827)
- Robert Sewallis Shirley, Viscount Tamworth (1778–1824)
- Washington Shirley, 8th Earl Ferrers (1760–1842)
- Robert William Shirley, Viscount Tamworth (1783–1830)
- Washington Sewallis Shirley, 9th Earl Ferrers (1822–1859)
- Sewallis Edward Shirley, 10th Earl FerrersSewallis Edward Shirley, 10th Earl FerrersSewallis Edward Shirley, 10th Earl Ferrers , was a British peer. He was the son of Washington Sewallis Shirley, 9th Earl Ferrers and Lady Augusta Annabella Chichester....
(1847–1912) - Walter Knight Shirley, 11th Earl Ferrers (1864–1937)
- Robert Walter Shirley, 12th Earl Ferrers (1894–1954)
- Robert Washington Shirley, 13th Earl FerrersRobert Shirley, 13th Earl FerrersRobert Washington Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers PC , styled Viscount Tamworth between 1937 and 1954, is British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords as one of the remaining hereditary peers...
(b. 1929)
The heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
is the present holder's eldest son Robert William Saswalo Shirley, Viscount Tamworth (b. 1952)
The heir apparent's heir apparent is his eldest son the Hon. William Robert Charles Shirley (b. 1984)