Earl Ferrers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Earldom Ferrers
Arms of Shirley, Earls Ferrers: Paly of six, or and azure, a canton ermine.
Creation date	1711
Monarch	Anne
Peerage	Peerage of Great Britain
First holder	Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers
Present holder	Robert Shirley, 14th Earl Ferrers
Heir apparent	William Shirley, Viscount Tamworth
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Tamworth Baronet Shirley of Staunton
Seat(s)	Ditchingham Hall
Motto	Honor vertutus premium (Honour is the reward of valour)

Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, from an engraving dated 1810

The title of Earl Ferrers is a special rank in the Peerage of Great Britain. A "peerage" is a system of titles like Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron, which are usually passed down through families. This particular title was created in 1711 for Robert Shirley.

The Shirley family, who hold this title, have a long history. They come from George Shirley, who lived in Astwell Castle in Northamptonshire. In 1611, he was given the title of Baronet. A Baronet is a hereditary title, meaning it can be passed down, but it is not part of the peerage.

The Shirley Family's Journey to Earls

The Shirley family's story involves several important figures and changes in their titles.

Early Shirley Baronets

The first Baronet, Sir George Shirley, was followed by his son, Henry. Henry married Lady Dorothy Devereux. Her brother was Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex. When her brother passed away, Lady Dorothy became one of the heirs to two old barony titles: Ferrers of Chartley and Bourchier. These titles were in "abeyance," meaning they were not held by anyone at that time.

Henry's eldest son became the third Baronet. He died without marrying. His younger brother then became the fourth Baronet. This Sir Robert Shirley was held in the Tower of London by Oliver Cromwell and died there in 1656.

After him, his eldest son became the fifth Baronet. He passed away quite young. His son, born after his father's death, became the sixth Baronet as an infant.

The First Earl Ferrers

The sixth Baronet died as a baby. His uncle, also named Robert Shirley, became the seventh Baronet. In 1677, King Charles II decided that Robert Shirley should officially hold the barony of Ferrers of Chartley. So, he became the thirteenth Baron Ferrers of Chartley.

Robert Shirley served important roles, like being in charge of the Queen's horses (Master of the Horse) and managing her household (Lord Steward). He was also the King's representative in Staffordshire (Lord Lieutenant). In 1711, he was given the new titles of Viscount Tamworth and Earl Ferrers. These new titles were part of the Peerage of Great Britain.

When the first Earl Ferrers died, his granddaughter, Elizabeth, inherited the barony of Ferrers of Chartley. However, his second son, Washington Shirley, became the second Earl Ferrers. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire.

Later Earls and Notable Events

The second Earl Ferrers had no children, so his younger brother, Henry, became the third Earl. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire.

The fourth Earl Ferrers was Laurence Shirley. He was the nephew of the third Earl. His time as Earl ended in a very unusual way for a peer. After him, the title passed to his younger brother, Washington Shirley, who became the fifth Earl. He was a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy.

The fifth Earl had no children. His younger brother, Robert, became the sixth Earl. The seventh Earl, Robert's eldest son, also had no children. So, his younger brother, Washington, became the eighth Earl.

When the eighth Earl died, his grandson, Washington Sewallis Shirley, became the ninth Earl. He was followed by his son, Sewallis Edward Shirley, the tenth Earl.

In 1912, the direct line from the sixth Earl ended. The title then went to his third cousin, Walter Shirley, who became the eleventh Earl.

The Modern Earls

As of 2010, the thirteenth Earl, Robert Washington Shirley, held the titles. He became Earl in 1954 and passed away in 2012. Lord Ferrers was a well-known politician from the Conservative Party. He held government positions from 1962 to 1997. He was also one of the ninety hereditary peers who remained in the House of Lords after a law change in 1999.

Since 2012, his elder son, Robert William Saswalo Shirley, has been the fourteenth Earl Ferrers.

The Earldom of Ferrers is the oldest earldom in the Peerage of Great Britain. The family's main home is Ditchingham Hall, located near Ditchingham, Norfolk.

Shirley Baronets, of Staunton Harold (1611)

"Quarterings of Shirley from the Great Family Pedigree, 1632"

Seal of Robert, Earl Ferrers on etching by Wenceslaus Hollar

Here are the people who held the Baronet title before the Earldom was created:

• 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 (1629-1656)
• Sir Seymour Shirley, 5th Baronet (1647–1667)
• Sir Robert Shirley, 6th Baronet (1668–1669)
• Sir Robert Shirley, 7th Baronet (1650–1717) (He was confirmed as Baron Ferrers of Chartley in 1677 and created Earl Ferrers in 1711)

Earls Ferrers (1711)

Here is a list of the Earls Ferrers:

• Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers (1650–1717)
• Washington Shirley, 2nd Earl Ferrers (1677–1729)
• Henry Shirley, 3rd Earl Ferrers (1691–1745)
• Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers (1720–1760)
• Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers (1722–1778)
• Robert Shirley, 6th Earl Ferrers (1723–1787)
• Robert Shirley, 7th Earl Ferrers (1756–1827)
• Washington Shirley, 8th Earl Ferrers (1760–1842)
• Washington Sewallis Shirley, 9th Earl Ferrers (1822–1859)
• Sewallis Edward Shirley, 10th Earl Ferrers (1847–1912)
• Walter Shirley, 11th Earl Ferrers (1864–1937)
• Robert Walter Shirley, 12th Earl Ferrers (1894–1954)
• Robert Washington Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers (1929–2012)
• Robert William Saswalo Shirley, 14th Earl Ferrers (born 1952)

The Current Earl Ferrers

Robert William Saswalo Shirley, the 14th Earl Ferrers, was born on December 29, 1952. He is the son of the 13th Earl and his wife, Annabel Mary Carr. From 1954, he was known as Viscount Tamworth. He studied at Ampleforth College and became a chartered accountant. This means he is a professional who deals with financial records and advice.

He worked as an auditor and financial analyst for BICC plc from 1986 to 1988. He was also a financial controller for Viking Property Group from 1987 to 1992. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

In 2003, he lived at The Old Vicarage in Shirley, Derbyshire. On November 13, 2012, he became the Earl Ferrers and Viscount Tamworth. He is also the 20th Shirley Baronet.

On June 21, 1980, Robert Shirley married Susannah Mary Sheepshanks. They have three children:

• Lady Hermione Mary Annabel Shirley (born 1982)
• William Robert Charles Shirley, Viscount Tamworth (born 1984), who is the heir apparent. This means he is next in line to inherit the titles.
• Frederick James Walter Shirley (born 1990)