Sir Anthony Shirley

Sir Anthony Shirley (1565–c. 1635) was an English adventurer and diplomat, second son of Sir Thomas Shirley. After fighting in the Netherlands and France, Henry IV made him a knight of St Michael in 1593, prompting Elizabeth I to investigate his foreign oath.

In 1598 he sailed with his younger brother Robert to Shah Abbas I's court, receiving the title Mirza Antonio. In 1599 Abbas sent him to Europe to seek an anti-Ottoman alliance; the embassy visited Moscow without result, and Elizabeth I barred his return to England.

He later served the Habsburgs and Spain as the self-styled Count of the East, and died in poverty in Madrid.