George Shirley, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir George Shirley (1559-1622) was an important English landowner. He was the second person ever to be given the special title of baronet. This title was created by the king to honor important people.

George was the son of John Shirley and Jane Lovett. His family came from a place called Staunton Harold. While some in his family had strong connections to the Roman Catholic faith, they generally followed the rules of the time to avoid any trouble. One of his sisters, Elizabeth Shirley, even became a nun.

Early Life and Education

When George's father died, George was still a child. The queen gave his care, called "wardship," to a courtier named Mary Cheke. She then sold this responsibility to Sir John Throckmorton.

George went to Oxford University in 1573. A few years later, in 1584, he was questioned because of his connections to Sir John's son, Francis. This was related to a political event known as the Throckmorton Plot.

Marriages and Family

In 1585, George planned to join the Earl of Leicester in the Netherlands for military service, though it's not clear if he actually went. Sir John Throckmorton likely wanted George to marry one of his own daughters. However, George paid £1,500 (a lot of money back then!) so he could choose his own wife.

He married Frances Berkeley (1561-1595), the daughter of Lord Berkeley. They had five children together, including his son Henry, who would inherit his lands, and Sir Thomas Shirley, who became interested in old history. After Frances passed away, George married Dorothy, who was the widow of a diplomat named Sir Henry Unton.

Public Service and Wealth

In 1603, George Shirley was the sheriff of Northampton. In this role, he had the honor of accompanying James I of England as the new king traveled through the county on his way to London.

Sir George Shirley passed away in 1622. He was buried at Breedon on the Hill, where he had built a special monument after his first wife died. When he died, he owned a lot of land in many different counties, including Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire. He was very wealthy and left large sums of money to his family.