William Davies Shipley

William Davies Shipley (5 October 1745 (OS) – 7 May 1826) was an Anglican priest who served as Dean of St Asaph for nearly 52 years, from 27 May 1774 until his death.

In a legal cause célèbre which became known as the Case of the Dean of St Asaph, he was tried and convicted on a charge of seditious libel in August 1784, but was discharged by the Court of King's Bench a few months later without being punished.

Shipley's political opponent, the High Sheriff of Flintshire, Thomas FitzMaurice (brother of the former Prime Minister William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne) complained to the public authorities.

The trial was postponed, and finally heard by a jury at the Shrewsbury Assizes in August 1784, with Mr Justice Francis Buller presiding.

Erskine brought an appeal to the Court of King's Bench in November 1784, arguing for a new trial on the grounds that the jury had been misdirected by Buller.

Although Shipley was discharged, his notoriety ended his chances of emulating his father by becoming a bishop, and he remained Dean of St Asaph until his death over 40 years later.

During his term in office, the chapter house was demolished in 1779, the choir was rebuilt, and a new episcopal throne, pulpit and reredos were installed.

His eldest son, William Shipley (1778–1820), was Whig MP for Flint Boroughs from 1807 to 1812 and for St Mawes from 1812 to 1813, but was killed in a shooting accident before his father's death.

His fourth son, Conway Shipley[1] (1782–1808), joined the Royal Navy, and served in the battle of the Glorious First of June in 1794, later commanded the corvette HMS Hippomenes when it captured the French privateer Egyptienne, and was killed in action commanding the frigate HMS Nymphe in the blockade of the River Tagus in 1808.