SHIRLEY (James), an eminent English poet in the 17th century, was born at London about the year 1594. He was educated at Merchant-taylor's school, and thence removed to Oxford. Some time after he went to Cambridge, where, entering into holy orders, he took care at or near St Albans. In the mean time, growing unsettled in his principles, he changed his religion for that of Rome, left his living, and taught a grammar-school in St Albans. But this employment becoming uneasy to him, he retired to London, lived in Gray's Inn, and became a writer of plays. By this he gained not only a livelihood, but also great respect and encouragement from persons of quality; especially from the queen, wife to king Charles I. who made him her servant. When the rebellion broke out, he was obliged to leave London with his family, (for he had a wife and children); and being invited by his patron, William, earl, afterwards duke, of Newcastle, to follow his fortune in the civil wars, he attended his lordship. On the decline of the king's cause he retired to London; where, among others of his friends, he found Mr Stanley, author of the Lives of the Philosophers, who supported him for the present. The acting of plays being prohibited, he returned to his old occupation of teaching school; which he did at White-Friars. At the Restoration, several of his plays were acted with applause. In 1666 he was forced, by the great fire, from his house near Fleet-street, into St Giles's in the Fields; where both he and his wife, being exceedingly afflicted by the loss and terror which the fire had occasioned, died within the space of 24 hours. He was by many considered as one of the most noted dramatic poets of his time; and some thought him even equal to Fletcher. Besides his plays, which are 38 in number, he wrote a volume of poems, and some tracts on grammar.