The title of Earl Ferrers was created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1711 for Sir Robert Shirley . it is the senior Earldom in the Peerage of Great Britain.
The Earl holds the subsidiary title of Viscount Tamworth (1711), which is used as a courtesy title by heirs-apparent to the Earldom.
The fourth earl is particularly notable as the last British peer to die a felon's death, in 1760, having murdered his steward.
The family seat is Haddenham Hall in Norfolk.
Earls Ferrers (1711)
- Robert Shirley, 1st Earl Ferrers (1650-1717)
- Washington Shirley, 2nd Earl Ferrers (1677-1729)
- Henry Shirley, 3rd Earl Ferrers (1691-1745)
- Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers (1720-1760)
- Washington Shirley, 5th Earl Ferrers (1722-1778)
- Robert Shirley, 6th Earl Ferrers (1723-1787)
- Robert Shirley, 7th Earl Ferrers (1756-1827)
- Washington Shirley, 8th Earl Ferrers (1760-1842)
- Washington Sewallis Shirley, 9th Earl Ferrers (1822-1859)
- Sewallis Edward Shirley, 10th Earl Ferrers (1847-1912)
- Walter Knight Shirley, 11th Earl Ferrers (1864-1937)
- Robert Walter Shirley, 12th Earl Ferrers (1894-1954)
- Robert Washington Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers (b. 1929)
