Sir John Villiers Shelley, 7th Baronet (18 March 1808 – 28 January 1867) was an English Tory landowner and politician.
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Early life
He was born the eldest son of Sir John Shelley, 6th Baronet and the former Frances Winkley (1787–1873), a noted diarist and close friend of the Duke of Wellington. Among his younger siblings were brothers Frederic Shelley and Adolphus Edward Shelley, the first Auditor-General in Hong Kong.
Shelley was educated at Charterhouse School.
Career
He joined the Royal Horse Guards in 1825 as an ensign and rose to lieutenant in 1828. He transferred as a lieutenant to the 20th Foot in 1830, went onto half-pay with the 60th Foot in 1831 and retired in 1832. He served as lieutenant-colonel of the 46th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers from 1861 to his death.
He was elected at the 1830 general election as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Gatton in Surrey, then at the 1831 general election as an MP for Great Grimsby, but did not contest the seat at the 1832 general election.
He did not stand again until he unsuccessfully contested the 1841 general election in East Sussex. On the death of the 6th Baronet on 28 March 1852 he became the 7th Baronet Shelley of Michelgrove, inheriting Maresfield Park in Sussex.