Shirley baronets facts for kids

A baronetcy is a special title given by the British King or Queen. It's like being a knight, but the title can be passed down through the family, usually from father to son. It's a very old honor!

The Shirley family had three different baronetcy titles created for them over the years. Two of these were created when England was a separate kingdom (called the Baronetage of England), and one was created after England and Scotland joined to form Great Britain (called the Baronetage of Great Britain). As of 2016, only the very first Shirley baronetcy still exists today.

The Shirley Baronetcy of Staunton (1611)

This was the first baronetcy created for the Shirley family. It was established on May 22, 1611, in Staunton, a place in Leicestershire, England. This particular baronetcy is still active today. The family holding this title is also connected to the higher noble title of the Earl Ferrers.

The Shirley Baronetcy of Preston (1666)

Another Shirley baronetcy was created on March 6, 1666. This one was for Sir Anthony Shirley, who lived in Preston, Sussex. Sir Anthony was an important person because he was a Member of Parliament (MP). This means he was elected to represent areas like Arundel, Sussex, and Steyning in the government.

This baronetcy didn't last as long as the first one. It ended in 1705 when the third person to hold the title passed away without a son to inherit it.

People who held the Preston Baronetcy

• Sir Anthony Shirley, 1st Baronet (1624–1683)
• Sir Richard Shirley, 2nd Baronet (c. 1655–1692)
• Sir Richard Shirley, 3rd Baronet (c. 1680–1705)

The Shirley Baronetcy of Oat Hall (1786)

The third baronetcy for the Shirley family was created much later, on June 27, 1786. This title was given to Sir Thomas Shirley, who lived in Oat Hall, Sussex. Sir Thomas was a very important person in the British Empire. He served as a Governor in several places, including the Bahamas, Dominica, and the Leeward Islands. A governor is like a leader or ruler of a colony or territory.

Like the Preston baronetcy, this title also came to an end. It became extinct in 1815 after the second baronet passed away.

People who held the Oat Hall Baronetcy

• Sir Thomas Shirley, 1st Baronet (1727–1800)
• Sir William Warden Shirley, 2nd Baronet (1772–1815)

Images for kids

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  The coat of arms for the Shirley baronets.