Robert Shirley, 7th Earl Ferrers

The eldest son of Robert Shirley, he became a courtesy viscount after his father succeeded his brother in the earldom in 1778.

On 4 July 1781, both Ferrers and Tamworth were appointed deputy lieutenants for Derbyshire. He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1787.[1]

Ferrers was named a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1788,[1] and was much interested in genealogy.[2]

Robert married Elizabeth Prentiss (d. 14 September 1799) on 13 March 1778 at St Leonard's, Shoreditch. They had one son:[2]

• Robert Sewallis Shirley, Viscount Tamworth (1778–1824), who married Hon. Sophia Caroline Curzon, daughter of Nathaniel Curzon, 2nd Baron Scarsdale, on 5 August 1800; he purchased a commission as cornet and sub-lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards on 6 October 1798,[3] was promoted into the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards as a lieutenant on 4 November 1800,[4] and retired from the Army in January 1802.[5] He was commissioned major of the Derby Regiment of Volunteer Infantry (militia) on 26 April 1804.[6]

He married his second wife, Elizabeth Mundy (d. 22 February 1827), daughter of Wrightson Mundy, on 28 September 1799, by whom he left no issue.[2] Since his son predeceased him, he was succeeded by his brother Washington when he died at Hastings in 1827 aged 70.[1] The Earl and his second wife were both buried at Breedon on the Hill.