Anglican clergyman, born on 23 September 1725. He was the brother of the Hon. Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers (who was executed in 1760 for murdering his steward) and cousin of the Countess of Huntingdon. He graduated from New College, Oxford in 1746. 'A typical hunting parson', he was converted under Henry Venn. His evangelical preaching as rector of Loughrea, Co. Galway from 1758 was condemned by the Bishop of Clonfert. Lady Huntingdon found him useful as a mediator in disputes within her movement and in the rift between Calvinist and Arminian evangelicals. But as one of the Countess's chaplains, he rallied the Calvinistic opposition to the Wesleyan Minutes of 1770, led the deputation of protesters at the Conference of 1771 and composed the circular letter for the Countess in 1772, accusing the Arminians of heresy. He wrote a number of hymns. He died in Dublin on 7 April 1786.

Entry written by: JAV
Category: Person
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