Shirley Western

British, 1768 - 1824

BiographyCharles Callis Western, the sitter on the right, and his younger brother, Shirley Western, on the left, were born at Rivenhall Place, Essex, in 1767 and 1768, respectively. They were the only surviving children of Frances Shirley (Bollan) (1744-1815) and her cousin, Charles Western (1747-1771), whose families were closely related through a century of intermarriage. In July 1771 their father was killed when he jumped from an out-of-control chaise in which his wife and one of the boys were also traveling. They escaped injury thanks to Frances Western's steely nerve and quick action. The brothers left Rivenhall around the age of seven to begin their education. Charles Callis Western completed his studies at Eton and matriculated at Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1784, but (like his father) apparently left without taking a degree. Shirley followed his brother from Eton to Queens' College in 1787 and received B.A. (1791) and M.A. (1794) degrees. He was ordained deacon (Norwich) on September 24, 1797 and priest on December 31, 1797. He served as rector of Hemingstone, Suffolk, from 1798-1824, and as rector of Rivenhall, Essex, from 1820-24. He never married and died on April 30, 1824, at Glebe House, Rivenhall.
Upon coming of age in 1788, Charles Callis Western inherited extensive properties in Essex and Suffolk, but three years later he purchased Felix Hall in Kelvedon, Essex, and made it his principal residence. After rebuilding the house in neo-classical style, he filled it with Greek and Roman antiquities acquired (with advice from the sculptor John Gibson) during his travels on the continent, principally at Rome in 1825-26. Politically, Western was a Whig who served as member of parliament for Maldon (1790-1812) and Essex (1812-32). Outspoken in defense of agricultural interests, he was one of the leading promoters of the Corn Bill in 1815. On January 28, 1833 he was created Baron Western of Rivenhall. He thereafter retired from public life in order to pursue practical experiments in farming, such as improving the breed of sheep. He never married and died at Felix Hall on November 4, 1844, whereupon the Western peerage became extinct.

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