He received the Jinshi or "presented scholar" degree, the highest under the imperial examination system.

Shen Junru and other six intellectuals in Shanghai were arrested in 1936 by Chiang Kai-shek's government, which is known as the Seven Gentlemen Incident.

This incident caused a national crisis and the seven individuals were released only after Japan launched an invasion in the summer of 1937.

[citation needed] Additionally, Shen was vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 1954 to 1963, and chairman of the China Democratic League from 1956 to 1963.

[citation needed] Shen died during his sleep in early morning on June 11, 1963, from a long illness at the age of 88 years old.