Evelyn Shirley (1812–1882)

Evelyn Philip Shirley, was a British politician, antiquary and genealogist.

Background

Shirley was born in London, the eldest son of Evelyn Shirley and Eliza, daughter of Arthur Stanhope. He was a descendant of Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers. He was educated first privately and from 1826 at Eton College, before matriculating in 1830 from Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating BA in 1834 and MA in 1837.
He inherited Ettington Park at Alderminster, near Stratford-on-Avon on the death of his father in 1856 and commissioned architect John Prichard to remodel it in 1858. It is now a Grade I listed building.

Career

Shirley sat as Member of Parliament for County Monaghan from 1841 to 1847 and for Warwickshire South from 1853 to 1865. He served as High Sheriff of Monaghan for 1837 and as High Sheriff of Warwickshire for 1867.

Personal

Shirley married Mary Clara Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edmund Lechmere, 2nd Baronet, in 1842. They had one son, Sewallis Shirley, and three daughters. Shirley died in September 1882, aged 70. His wife died in August 1894.