Walter Shirley

SHIRLEY, (William) Walter. b. Staunton Harold, Leicestershire, 23 September 1725; d. Dublin, 7 April 1786. He was born into a noble family: he was the son of the Hon. Laurence Shirley, brother of Earl Ferrers. The Earl’s daughter, Selina Shirley, who became Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon*, was his cousin. Walter Shirley was educated at New College, Oxford, and became an Anglican priest. In 1746 he was appointed rector of Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland, where he was much admired as a preacher: he published Gospel Repentance. A Sermon preached in St Peter’s Church on Sunday, November the 25th, 1759 (1760), and Twelve Sermons preached upon several occasions, by the Hon and Rev...