Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers facts for kids

Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers (born August 18, 1720 – died May 5, 1760), was an English nobleman. He is known for being the last member of the British nobility to be executed after being found guilty of causing the death of his steward.

Life Story

Laurence Shirley was the oldest son of Laurence Ferrers. He was also the grandson of the first Earl Ferrers. When he was about 20 years old, he left his family estates and his studies at Oxford University. He then spent some time living in Paris, France.

At age 25, he inherited his title and large estates in Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Northamptonshire from his uncle, the 3rd Earl Ferrers. He lived at a grand house called Staunton Harold Hall in Leicestershire. In 1752, he married Mary, who was the youngest sister of Sir William Meredith, 3rd Baronet.

Family Life

Earl Ferrers had a history of unusual behavior in his family. From a young age, he showed signs of being a bit different and could have a strong temper. However, he was still able to manage his business affairs well.

In 1758, his wife, Mary, decided to separate from him because they had many disagreements. This was quite unusual for the time. After Earl Ferrers passed away, Mary married again in 1769 to Lord Frederick Campbell. Mary later died in a fire at her home in Kent in 1807.

A Tragic Event

After the separation, Earl Ferrers' estates were managed by a group of trustees. He helped to appoint an old family steward, Mr. Johnson, to collect the rents from the estates. Mr. Johnson did his job faithfully for the trustees. However, he did not always agree with Earl Ferrers' personal wishes.

On January 18, 1760, Mr. Johnson visited the Earl's home at Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. They met in the Earl's study. After some discussion, a serious incident occurred where the Earl harmed Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson did not die right away. He received some care at the house before a doctor, Thomas Kirkland, took him to his own home. Sadly, Mr. Johnson passed away the next morning.

The Trial

In April of that year, Earl Ferrers was put on trial for causing Mr. Johnson's death. His trial took place in Westminster Hall, and other noblemen judged him. The main lawyer for the prosecution was Charles Pratt KC, who later became a very important judge.

Earl Ferrers defended himself during the trial. He argued that he was not mentally well at the time of the incident. He presented a lot of evidence to support this claim. However, the judges found him guilty.

The Execution

On May 5, 1760, Earl Ferrers was 39 years old. He was taken from the Tower of London to Tyburn, a place where executions happened. He was wearing the same light-colored suit embroidered with silver that he had worn on his wedding day. He was then executed by hanging.

It is said that because of his high rank, a special silk rope was used. After the execution, his body was taken to the Barber-Surgeons' Hall for public viewing and study. This event was widely talked about. It showed that the law applied to everyone, even important noblemen. The story of a nobleman facing justice "like a common criminal" was told for many years afterward.

Images for kids

• 

  The 4th Earl Ferrers, engraving dated 1810

• 

  Lady Frederick Campbell, portrait by Thomas Gainsborough