William Shirres was the second son of Alexander Shirreffs and took over, at an early age, the business of his father in the shop 57, King Street. He assumed as a partner in the business Mr James Pittendreigh, and as the business grew the firm moved to Market Street. In 1862 William Shirres retired from that business, which was then taken over by his brother, the late Mr James Shirres, under the firm of Shirres, Webster & McKenzie. Though retired from the business in Market Street, he had a factory at Rosemount (Rosemount Works, Gilcomston), and as a shipowner, he had a large interest in the shipping affairs of the port.

He took an interest in municipal politics and was elected to the Town Council in November 1865. After the elections in the following year, he became a member of and one of four Baillies of Aberdeen. In the elections of 1868 he opposed the "party of progress" and was defeated. He was a local director of the City of Glasgow Bank, and at the time of the great crash in the 1870s and lost £60,000 as a result of the shareholders being held responsible. After this the House of Lords passed legislation introducing limited liability companies. It is understood, however, that he was able to retrieve his fortunes to some extent.

William Shirres married a daughter of the late Captain Leslie of Aberdeen and lived at 15, Bon Accord Cresent, Aberdeen. The family also had a large country house "Dungeith" at Banchory and William rented a house in South Kensington, London which he needed because of his extensive shipping interests. The family and staff would always travel to London by sea from Aberdeen, in those days the railway only extended to Montrose. He owned the "May Queen" (849 tons iron ship) and jointly owned (with his brother-in-law, John Leslie) the Calypso (1308 tons iron ship) and the "Queen Bee" (726 tons wooden ship) which sailed the New Zealand trade routes.

"Mr Shirres, who was a native of Aberdeen, took over, at an early age, the business of his father in the shop 57, King Street. Here by dint of careful and methodical habits and endowed as he was with much shrewd business capacity, he carried on a large retail business, which soon he developed into an extensive wholesale house. In the course of time he assumed as a partner in the business Mr James Pittendreigh, and as the business continued to develop, the firm found it necessary to move to larger quarters. From King Street, therefore, the business moved to Market Street, to the site now occupied by the "Pavilion" Restaurant, and here Mr Shirres continued for some years to exercise with some success his keen business capabilities. During the time he was in business he passed through his hands many men who afterwards founded substantial business houses on their own behalf. Thirty three years ago Mr Shirres retired from the business, when it was taken over by his brother, the late Mr James Shirres, in company with Mr James McKenzie, and the late Mr Webster, under the firm of Shirres, Webster & McKenzie. Though he retired from the business in Market Street, however, Mr Shirres retained for many years thereafter an important business connection. In connection with his factory at Rosemount (Rosemount Works, Gilcomston), he gave employment to a large number of work-people, and as a shipowner, he had a large interest in the shipping affairs of the port. Mr Shirres had always taken an interest in municipal politics, and having leisure at his disposal, he essayed in the November elections of 1865 to enter the Town Council. He became a candidate for the then Third Ward, and along with his friend the late Mr George Donald, he was returned. After the elections in the following year, when Provost Nichol took the place of Sir Alexander Anderson in the civic chair, Mr Shirres was elevated to the bench-again with his friend Mr Donald-the four Baillies being William Henderson, George Donald, William Shirres and John Sangster. In the elections of 1868, however, when he opposed the "party of progress". Baillie Shirres sustained defeat. Once again, in the election of 1874, after the amalgamation of the Town Council and Police Board, Mr Shirres tried his fate at the polls, but again was unsuccessful, and henceforth he maintained in reference to municipal movements the attitude of a disinterested spectator. For fifteen years Mr Shirres was a manager of the Royal Infirmary. He was a member of the St Nicholas Parochial Board, and a member of various other bodies, and in the conduct of all these organisations he took a capable part. He was a local director of the City of Glasgow Bank, and at the time of the great crash he was a heavy loser. It is understood, however, that he was able to retrieve his fortunes to some extent. Mr Shirres married a daughter of the late Captain Leslie of Aberdeen. Of the marriage there were seven sons and a daughter, and Mr Shirres is survived by Mrs Shirres and a family of four sons and a daughter. One of the sons, William is sheep-farming in New Zealand, Dr George Shirres and Charles are in Australia, the former in medical practice and the later in business, and the fourth son, Leslie, is in the Indian Civil Service. Mr Shirres is survived also by his brother, Mr D.L. Shirres, Tullos House, Nigg. - Daily Free Press"

William Shirres of 15, Bon Accord Crescent, Aberdeen died 1.1.1895, confirmation granted 31.1.1895 to David Morton 239, Gt Western Road, Aberdeen, Robert Whyte Mackay, Warehouseman, Aberdeen, James Buyers, Bank Agent there, John Leslie, shipowner, 79, Mark Lane, London, his brother in law and Christian Leslie or Shirres, his widow, and Christian Shirres, his daughter, both at 15, Bon Accord Crescent. Recorded 29.1.1895.

Will refers to Cousin Elspet Gilbert, Niece Anna Shirres, My three sons William, George and Charles and daughter, Christian. Refers also to son William's wife and children (Does not refer to son Leslie Pittendrigh Shirres).

The following ships were owned, or part owned by William Shirres and are described in Christain Selina Shirres's book "Sailing Ships and Sheep Stations". Three of these ships became shipwrecks illustrating the dangers of the shipping trade at that time.

THE QUEEN BEE (1859 - 1877)- A wooden ship of 726 tons built in 1859 and for some time owned by Captain Leslie in partnership with his brother in law, William Shirres and his father in law, James Laing. She was bought by Shaw Savill in 1873 and was wrecked off Cape Loftus in 1877.

From Waters' "Shaw Savill Line

An Iron ship of 849 tons built in 1869, acquired by William Shirres about 1800. This was the ship on which John Vass Shirres and William Shirres Jnr sailed to New Zealand. The May Queen was wrecked at Lyttelton, New Zealand in 1888. An article about the ship is given in the Appendix.

A iron ship of 1308 tons built in 1874 and was launched by William's daughter Christian. It was owned by John Leslie (William Shirres' brother in law) in partnership with his brother in law, William Shirres and his father in law, James Laing. John Leslie commanded the Calypso himself until 1879 when he handed her over to Captain Hird. In 1881 was at anchor in the Thames, off Margate. the Calypso was run down and sunk by the Hawk, a steamer belonging to another company.

The only sailing ship specially designed for the frozen meat trade was the 4 masted Hinemoa (barque) of 2284 tons register. She came too late however as by that time steamers were ousting sailing ships from the trade. After carrying one or two shipments from New Zealand to Melbourne, her freezing machinery was taken out and the Hinemoa became a general trader under the registered ownership of John Leslie. She was sold to a Liverpool firm in 1913 and torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in 1917. William Shirres had a 1/64th share in this ship which, on his death, was transferred to his wife and, on her death, to Christian Shirres.