Surname: Shirley Forename(s): James b. 1596. d. 1666. Nationality: English. VIAF.
Poet, schoolmaster, and playwright. Educated at St John’s College, Oxford, and St
Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Married twice, to Elizabeth Gilmet on 1 June 1618
and Frances Blackburne in the 1650s. Became a schoolmaster of the St. Albans grammar
school. Ordained in 1619. Moved to St Giles, London to pursue a career as a playwright
in 1625. Wrote for the company Queen Henrietta Maria’s Men in Dury Lane (1625-1636).
Moved to Ireland, due to the plague, to continue writing for the court of the lord
deputy of Ireland (1636-1640). Returned to London and wrote for the King’s Men (1640-1642).
Forced to give up playwriting during the Commonwealth, and instead wrote poetry and
Latin grammar books, but continued again after the Restoration. Biographical information:
ODNB. (CC)