originally built for William Shirley, colonial governor of Massachusetts
Bay Colony, about 1747.
The Eustis-Shirley House is “one of only four remaining Royal
Colonial Governors’ mansions in the country and the only one actually built by a Royal Colonial Governor . . . One of
a handful of Boston’s national landmarks that pre-date 1750, the House represents an unusually long continuum in American
history, serving as the home of two distinguished Governors - one Royal and one Federal (William Eustis).”
The house was confiscated during the Revolution and used by the patriots
as a barracks and hospital during the siege of Boston. The property was purchased in 1819 by Dr. William
Eustis, a surgeon in the Revolutionary War and in 1823, elected Governor of Massachusetts.
Manifestly Georgian in design,
the Shirley Eustis House is a 3-1/2-story structure clapboard structure with a brick interior support system, with hipped
roof and a cupola. Originally the exterior was rusticated. The facades are adorned by giant double pilasters. A large salon,
two stories high, divides the house and was used for State banquets and receptions. Originally build as a waterfront summer
home on the south bay of Boston
Harbor, the site was 33 acres with outbuildings for servants and kitchen. In the 19th century the high stone basement
contained kitchens, rooms for servants and a wine cellar.. The house has had quite a history as a residence as its surroundings
changed. In 1913 the Shirley-Eustis House Association was formed to save the mansion from the wrecker’s ball. Finally
in the 1980’s restoration began. In the early 1990’s, the house opened as a museum.
William Eustis
WILLIAM EUSTIS was born in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, on 10 June 1753 and graduated from Harvard
College in 1772, where he studied medicine under Dr. Joseph Warren. He helped care for the wounded at Bunker Hill and served in the Revolutionary Army
as surgeon of the artillery regiment at Cambridge. Dr. Eustis became vice president of the Society of the Cincinnati, served in the Massachusetts legislature
(General Court), 1788–1794, two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1801–1804 (having won over Josiah
Quincy and John Quincy Adams) and as Secretary of War, 7 March 1809–13 January 1813.
He was appointed minister to Holland by President Madison, serving from 1814 to 1818; returned home because of ill
health; purchased and resided in the historic Shirley Mansion in Roxbury, Massachusetts; was again elected to the U.S. House
of Representatives, 1820–1823; ran unsuccessfully for governor of Massachusetts in 1820, 1821, and 1822; was elected
governor of Massachusetts and served two terms, 1823–1825; died in Boston while governor, on 6 February 1825. He married
Caroline Langdon, 1810
There aren’t too many landmarks like this that have survived two-and-a-half
centuries. This one shows signs of hard use, but has a certain charm to it. The cupola is still standing, and from it you
can view Dorchester Heights
and all of the surrounding neighborhood. The commander of the Massachusetts 6th Regiment
stood where I was this morning, and could see the British fleet in South Bay . . . and the gun batteries that General Washington had moved to where they commanded the landward
approach to the town of Boston in 1775.
We were among seven who
toured this remarkably built residence of people who believed, participated and
died in the revolutionary war. Then, when the colonies were independent, served
as ambassador to the first country who recognized the US
and also in the federal and state governments as high officials.
No doubt the people who
lived here were historic.
The house itself and its
associated carriage house and grounds overlooking much of Boston
harbor present a formidable estate that make a similar-name-bearer proud of the standing and esteem Dr. William Eustis had
in the minds of his fellow citizens. This building reveals the actions of this
man. While there is a portrait of him, it is only too bad none of his writings
have survived to this day to gain the thoughts of this man.
The visit to this place
was well worth the two hours spent.
