Evelyn Philip Shirley was a British

British people

The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...

 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

Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers

Sir Robert Shirley, 7th Baronet, of Staunton Harold, 13th Baron Ferrers of Chartley, created 1st Earl Ferrers was an English peer and courtier....

. He was educated first privately and from 1826 at Eton College

Eton College

Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....

, before matriculating in 1830 from Magdalen College, Oxford

Magdalen College, Oxford

Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...

, graduating BA in 1834 and MA in 1837.

Career

Shirley sat as Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 for County Monaghan

Monaghan (UK Parliament constituency)

Monaghan is a former parliamentary constituency in Ireland, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-Members of Parliament:-References:...

 from 1841 to 1847 and for Warwickshire South

South Warwickshire (UK Parliament constituency)

South Warwickshire was a parliamentary constituency in the county of Warwickshire in England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.- History :...

 from 1853 to 1865. He served as High Sheriff of Monaghan

High Sheriff of Monaghan

The High Sheriff of Monaghan was the British monarch's representative in County Monaghan, a territory known as his bailiwick. Selected from three nominated people, he held his office over the duration of a year. He had judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executed High Court...

 for 1837 and as High Sheriff of Warwickshire

High Sheriff of Warwickshire

The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...

 for 1867.

Personal

Shirley married Mary Clara Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edmund Lechmere, 2nd Baronet, in 1842. They had one son, Sewallis Shirley

Sewallis Shirley (MP)

Sewallis Evelyn Shirley DL, JP , was a British politician. He is best known as the founder of the Kennel Club in Britain in 1873.-Background and education:...

, and three daughters. Shirley died in September 1882, aged 70. His wife died in August 1894.

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