Soldier and fire brigade chief. Probably born at Glenmore Cottage, Ballymore, Ireland. After a short military career, he was appointed Chief Constable of Belfast, being responsible for both the police and the fire brigade. In 1861 following the death of James Braidwood in the Tooley Street fire, he was engaged as head of the London Fire Engine Department. Knighted on his last day of service.
He was immortalised in Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe' in which the Fairy Queen sings "Oh Captain Shaw, type of true love kept under, could thy brigade with cold cascade quench my great love I wonder?". By a happy chance, Shaw was sitting in the middle of the stalls on the opening night of the operetta. Died at the Grand Hotel, Folkestone.
2025: Mike Coleman drew our attention to the Wikipedia page for the Massey Shaw: "Massey Shaw is a former London Fire Brigade fireboat, named after the first Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Captain Sir Eyre Massey Shaw. Built in 1935 and decommissioned in 1971, the vessel was restored in the early 21st century and is moored in London's West India Docks."
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
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