Robert Shirley, 7th Earl Ferrers facts for kids
Robert Shirley, 7th Earl Ferrers (born September 21, 1756 – died May 2, 1827) was an important British nobleman. He held the title of Viscount Tamworth from 1778 until 1787, when he became the 7th Earl Ferrers.
Early Life
Robert Shirley was the oldest son of Robert Shirley. When his father became an Earl in 1778, Robert received the special title of courtesy viscount, meaning he was known as Viscount Tamworth.
His Career and Interests
On July 4, 1781, both Robert and his father were appointed as deputy lieutenants for Derbyshire. A Deputy Lieutenant is a person who helps the Lord-Lieutenant of a county with their duties, often related to local government and military support.
In 1787, Robert took over his father's title and became the Earl Ferrers. The next year, in 1788, he was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. This group is dedicated to studying and preserving historical objects and records. Robert was very interested in genealogy, which is the study of family histories and tracing ancestors.
Family Life
Robert Shirley married Elizabeth Prentiss on March 13, 1778. They were married at St Leonard's, Shoreditch. Elizabeth passed away on September 14, 1799. They had one son together:
- Robert Sewallis Shirley, Viscount Tamworth (1778–1824)
Their son, Robert Sewallis Shirley, married Hon. Sophia Caroline Curzon on August 5, 1800. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Curzon, 2nd Baron Scarsdale. Robert Sewallis also served in the military. He joined the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards in 1798. He later became a lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards in 1800. He left the Army in 1802. In 1804, he became a major in the Derby Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, which was a local military group.
After his first wife died, Robert Shirley married his second wife, Elizabeth Mundy, on September 28, 1799. Elizabeth was the daughter of Wrightson Mundy. They did not have any children together. Elizabeth passed away on February 22, 1827.
Robert Shirley, the 7th Earl Ferrers, died in Hastings in 1827 when he was 70 years old. Because his son, Robert Sewallis, had passed away before him, Robert was succeeded by his brother, Washington. Both the Earl and his second wife were buried at Breedon on the Hill.
His Children and Legacy
Even though Robert Sewallis Shirley, the Earl's son, did not have any children who were considered legitimate heirs, he did have a natural daughter named Caroline Shirley (1818–1897).
The family's estates, which included lands at Ragdale and Ratcliffe on the Wreake in Leicestershire, were very old. They had been passed down through the Basset family for many years. The 7th Earl Ferrers decided to leave these family estates to his granddaughter, Caroline. She later became known as Duchess Sforza Cesarini.
