page_title: William Shirley
section_title: Family and legacy
hierarchical_section_title: William Shirley / Family and legacy
caption_attribution_description: Shirley-Eustis House, Roxbury, originally the mansion for the Royal Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Shot with Canon XTi | EF-S17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM @ 22 mm 1/200 sec at f/10 | ISO100 | no flash
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 married twice and had two sons and three daughters.
  His elder son Thomas (later Sir Thomas) became a major general in the British army, was created a baronet in 1786 as "Shirley baronets, of Oat Hall (1786)" Sussex, and served, after his posting to the Bahamas, as Governor of Dominica and Governor of the Leeward Islands. Sir Thomas died in 1800. The Baronetcy became extinct after the death of Sir Thomas Shirley's son Sir William Warden Shirley, 2nd Baronet (1772–1815). 
  Shirley's other son, William Jr., was killed in 1755 at the Battle of the Monongahela whilst serving with Edward Braddock. Shirley's eldest daughter Anne married John Erving, a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council; their daughter Anne married Duncan Stewart of Ardsheal, Chief of the Clan Stewart of Appin. Shirley's youngest daughter Maria Catherina married John Erving Jnr.
  Shirley built a family home in Roxbury between 1747 and 1751. He sold it to his daughter and son-in-law, Eliakim Hutchinson, in 1763.  It later came into the hands of William Eustis, Governor of Massachusetts in the 19th century. Now known as the Shirley-Eustis House, it still stands at 33 Shirley Street. It has largely been restored and is a museum open to the public.
  The town of Shirley, Massachusetts was founded during his term as Massachusetts governor.  The Winthrop, Massachusetts geographical feature Shirley Point and the former feature Shirley Gut are named for him.  Shirley helped to establish a cod fishery in Winthrop in 1753.  Shirley is also the namesake of Shirley Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia (which is parallel to Pepperell Street, named after William Pepperell).
caption: The Shirley-Eustis House, in Roxbury, now part of Boston
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