William Shirley - Paris and Return

Paris and Return

After defending himself against his American critics, Shirley was sent in 1750 to a peace conference in Paris. In meetings dominated by hardliners from both sides, he was unable to settle the boundary disputes between New England and French Canada, and returned to London in 1752. While in Paris Shirley married his landlord's daughter, who was younger than several of his children. Shirley sought a new governorship, but was sent back to Massachusetts in 1753. He left his new wife in England. The opposition in Massachusetts to Shirley had died down while he was in England and Paris. Shirley soon had to deal with the increasing conflict on the frontier with French Canada, planning an expedition in Maine. In 1755 two British regiments under General Edward Braddock were sent to America. Braddock named Shirley as his second in command, with an assignment to attack Fort Niagara, while Braddock lead his regiments against Fort Duquesne.