page_title: William Shirley
section_title: Seven Years War: 1755 campaigns
hierarchical_section_title: William Shirley / Return to Massachusetts / Seven Years War: 1755 campaigns
caption_attribution_description: Mezzotint engraving of William Johnson with the caption: Sir William Johnson&#160;: Major General of the British forces in America
context_page_description: William Shirley was a British colonial administrator who was the longest-serving governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay and then Governor of the Bahamas. He is best known for his role in organizing the 1745 Siege of Louisbourg during King George's War, and for his role in military affairs during the French and Indian War. He spent most of his years in the colonial administration of North America working to defeat New France, but his lack of formal military training led to political difficulties and his eventual downfall.
  Politically well connected, Shirley began his career in Massachusetts as advocate general in the admiralty court, and quickly became an opponent of Governor Jonathan Belcher. He joined with Belcher's other political enemies to bring about Belcher's recall, and was appointed Governor of Massachusetts Bay in Belcher's place. He successfully quieted political divisions within the province, and was able to bring about united action against New France when King George's War began in 1744. The successful Siege of Louisbourg, which Shirley had a major role in organizing, was one of the high points of his administration.
context_section_description: Shirley was approached by Nova Scotia Governor Charles Lawrence for assistance in dealing with the French threat on that province's frontiers, suggesting that the collaborate on military actions there.  Shirley and Lawrence believed their proposed expedition would also require assistance from Britain, and sent letters requesting the same.  At the same time they ramped up preparations in anticipation of the request being approved.  Shirley was also ordered to activate and recruit for his regiment, which was to serve in Braddock's force.  Because he could not leave the province he sent one of his sons to New York to recruit troops there; Massachusetts men were being drafted for the Nova Scotia expedition.  He furthermore revived the idea of an expedition against Fort St. Frédéric, although he limited the first year's action to the establishment of a fort at the southern end of Lake George, and sought to draw the leaders of neighboring colonies to assist in the operation.  He mollified New York's Acting Governor James DeLancey, who was generally hostile to Massachusetts interests, by proposing that the expedition be led by New York's Indian Commissioner, Colonel William Johnson.  Johnson was at first reluctant, but Shirley was able to convince him to take the command.
  Since the French and Indian War had become a matter of imperial concern, two British Army regiments under General Edward Braddock were sent to America.  In written exchanges, Braddock announced his intention to use this force against Fort Duquesne in the Ohio Country, while Shirley unsuccessfully lobbied him to instead target Fort Niagara.  At a conference of governors and military leaders in April 1755 Shirley favorably impressed Braddock.  Braddock declared that Duquesne would be his target, but he authorized Shirley to take his regiment and that of Sir William Pepperrell to Fort Niagara, and confirmed Johnson's command of the Lake George campaign.  Braddock's instructions only gave Shirley the vaguest command over Johnson, which was to later become a source of trouble.  The two northern expeditions were to be made without logistical assistance from the regular army.
  From the conference Shirley traveled to New York City, where he negotiated with merchants for supplying his expedition.  The frosty relationship he had with Governor DeLancey continued; the DeLanceys objected to what they saw as Massachusetts interference in their provincial affairs.  When Shirley moved to prevent New York agent Oliver DeLancey from recruiting in Connecticut, it caused a stink and threatened to derail planning for the New York expeditions.  Shirley then created a breach with Johnson by attempting to siphon troops from Johnson's command to increase his own force for the Fort Niagara expedition.  The antagonism was furthered by the fact that the two expeditions were competing for supplies from the same sources, and was also exacerbated by ongoing border disputes between the provinces.
  When Shirley and Johnson met in July 1755 before their respective expeditions set off, tension between the two men continued, and Johnson delayed decisions on assigning Indian auxiliaries to Shirley's campaign, observing that much of the expedition was traveling through friendly Iroquois territory, where they would not yet be needed.  Shirley took offense at this as an act of insubordination.  Believing he outranked Johnson, Shirley next sought to bypass the Indian agent and negotiate directly with the tribes for recruits, but Johnson and his subordinates actively opposed the move.  The Iroquois also objected to the presence of Shirley's recruiting agent, Colonel John Lydius, with whom they had outstanding issues over past land transactions.  The situation was not made easier by the fact that neither Johnson nor Shirley had ever commanded expeditions of the size and scope proposed.
  Shirley's expedition reached Fort Oswego in mid-August.  The trek up the Mohawk River had been slowed by low water, and it was being incompetently supplied, resulting in a shortage of provisions.  Shirley learned en route 
caption: 1756 engraved portrait of William Johnson
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