Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers

Robert Washington Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers PC ( born June 8, 1929 † November 13, 2012 ) was a British nobleman and politician.

Life

Shirley was the only son of Robert Shirley, 12th Earl Ferrers. He attended Winchester College and then studied at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge Agricultural Science. He then fought with the Coldstream Guards in Malaya. In 1954 he inherited when his father died the title Earl Ferrers and the associated seat in the House of Lords.

While the conservative governments Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home (1962-1964) and Edward Heath (1971-1974) he served as Whip of his party in the House of Lords. In the following years he was then for a few months Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

After the Conservatives again questioned the government under Margaret Thatcher, Shirley was Minister of State in the same Ministry and Deputy Chairman of the House of Lords. Both offices he resigned in 1983. In 1988 he returned as Minister of State at the Home Office in the government from 1990 under John Major, back. In 1994 he moved to the Trade and Industry Ministry and the following year in the Ministry of Environment. Until 1997 he was also, in turn, Deputy Chairman of the House of Lords. Therefore Shirley served under five conservative prime ministers for more than 18 years in government offices.

Even after the reform of the Upper House in 1999, he still had a seat there as one of the 90 members who are elected by the hereditary nobles.

Shirley was Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of England and Wales Lazarus Order since 2007 and was in 2012 by Charles Chetwynd - Talbot, 22nd Earl of Shrewsbury replaced.

Family

Shirley was married and had two sons and three daughters.