Richard Shelley (1513?–1589?) was a diplomat and the last Grand Prior of the Knights of Saint John in England. Life Richard Shelley born about 1513, was second son of Sir William Shelley. Like various other members of the family, he became a Knight of St John, and about 1535 was sent abroad to complete his education. In August of that year he carried letters from Thomas Starkey to (Sir) Richard Morison, who was then at Rome, and in 1538 Shelley was at Venice. But, growing "wearier of this scholastical life than he can express," he set out early in May 1539 for Constantinople in the company of the Venetian ambassador. The journey was overland, and occupied four months; the ambassador died on the way, and Shelley remained at Constantinople under the protection of the French ambassador. Shelley claimed to be the first Englishman to visit Constantinople since its capture by the Turks. During his absence the order of St. John was suppressed in 1540, and Shelley entered the king's service, being employed on various diplomatic missions. In 1547 he was in Parliament as Member for Gatton. Early in 1549 he was sent to the king of France, and in October 1550 Sir John Mason suggested his despatch as special commissioner to the same monarch, "being fully qualified by his knowledge of the language and previous experience." In October–November 1551 he escorted Mary of Guise through England on her return from France to Scotland. In June 1552 he was again abroad, and on 11 July 1553 he was sent to Brussels with despatches to Charles V, announcing the death of Edward VI and succession of Queen Jane. He waited, however, to see how events would turn out in England, and on the accession of Mary I of England returned without delivering his despatches. In January 1553–4 he was at Vienna as envoy to the king of the Romans, and in May 1555 he received a passport and letters to the king of Portugal and to the regent of Spain written in anticipation of the birth of a child to Mary. In January 1556–7 he was sent by Mary to the Duchess of Parma, regent of the Netherlands, to invite her to England. Meanwhile, Mary had resolved to restore the order of St. John in England, and Shelley was actively employed in making the necessary arrangements. On the re-establishment of the order