After spending his youth in the West Indies as a merchant, he returned at his father's death, and succeeded to the lease of the farm at Captainhead, Haddington.
[1] Shirreff attempted agricultural improvements, including a threshing-machine, worked by wind, and a bone-mill.
After subletting his farm, he resided at Craigside, Abbey Hill, and other places in and around Edinburgh, writing on agricultural topics.
[1] During the last years of his life Shirreff resided in the country, taking charge of the estates of some noblemen.
[1] In 1801 Shirreff received a premium from the Board of Agriculture for an essay on the "Best Mode of cropping Old Pasture Grounds".