Biography of Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers 1720-1760

On 18th January 1760 Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 39] shot his old family steward Johnson at Staunton Harold Hall Staunton Harold, Leicestershire. Thomas Kirkland [aged 39] was called to attend the steward. Kirkland subsequently left the house covertly, brought a magistrate with armed men, and removed the wounded steward, Johnson, who soon died.

18th-century engraving of Lord Ferrers shooting his steward.

Thomas Kirkland: In 1721 he was born at Ashbourne, Derbyshire [Map]. In April 1760 Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers was tried by his peers; Thomas Kirkland was a witness. Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers was found guilty. On 17th January 1798 he died.

In April 1760 Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 39] was tried by his peers; Thomas Kirkland [aged 39] was a witness. Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers was found guilty.

On 5th May 1760 Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 39] was hanged at Tyburn [Map] for having shot his old family steward. Earl Ferrers, Baronet Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire forfeit. He was the last peer to be hanged in England.

In April 1760 Laurence Shirley 4th Earl Ferrers [aged 39] was tried for murder by his peers at Westminster Hall [Map] with Attorney General Charles Pratt leading for the prosecution, found guilty and executed.

Diary of Caroline Girlie. 6th May 1760. Earl Ferrers [deceased] was carried from the Tower [Map] to Tyburn [Map] executed by a party of Horse and Foot Guards, a Clergyman and the two Sherifs were in the Coach with him. The poor unhappy man was drest in his wedding suit, dating as he himself said his whole unhappy conduct from a forced marriage. He observed that the apparatus, and being made a spectacle of to so vast a multitude was greatly worse than death itself the procession was two hours & 3/4 from setting out, the Landau & six in which he was ye Sheriffs each in their Chariots one mourning Coach and a Hearse attended, and return'd thro' Lincoln's Inn Fields about one, I think I never shall forget a procession so moving, to know a man an hour before in perfect health then a Lifeless corpse, yet a just victim to his Country, for the abuse of that power his rank in Life had given him a Title too, his rank indeed caused his punishment, as the good Old King, in answer to numerous petitions of his greatly to be pitied Family made this memorable speech, "That for the last years of his Life, he had been beyond his most Sanguine hopes successful, for which he should ever return thanks to God, and on his part he had and always would endeavour to Administer justice as he ought, as Events had shown by the punishment of his most exalted Subjects". This was a noble answer. Yet none could help pitying this unhappy Lord, his intellects most probably was rather more in fault than his heart in the murder for which he Suffer'd, and had he been low born his majesty would have shewn more Mercy without such strict Justice.