Edward was born in 1639 at Methley in Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, and was baptised in the parish church on March 5, 1639. He was the son of Mary (Nunes) and William Shippen, a prosperous yeoman and an overseer of the poor and of the highways.
In 1668 he emigrated to Boston, Massachussets, where he soon became a wealthy merchant and owner of real estate. Later he removed his family and his business to Philadelphia.
In 1695 he was elected to the provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania and was chosen speaker. He served as an elective member of the provincial council from 1696 until the constitution was changed in 1701 and then as an appointive member until 1712. He was president of the council from 1702 to 1712 and acting governor from April 1703 until February 1704. He also served again as a member of the Assembly in 1700-01 and 1705-06.
In the charter of Philadelphia, granted by William Penn on October 25, 1701, he was named as mayor and held that post until October 1703. He was also city treasurer from 1705 until 1712. He was an associate justice of the supreme court, 1699-1703.
He died at his home in Philadelphia. Penn was favorably impressed by his business ability, and he served as one of the proprietary commissioners of property from 1701 until his death in 1712.
He joined the Society of Friends about 1671 and was severely persecuted on account of his faith until about 1694.
Quotes from others about the person
He has been described as "a man of courage, energy, integrity, intelligence and sagacity". He was famous in his day as the biggest man and the owner of "the biggest house and the biggest coach" in Philadelphia. (Letters and Papers, post).
He was married three times; at Boston in 1671 to Elizabeth Lybrand, who died on October 25, 1688; on September 4, 1689, to Rebecca (Howard) Richardson of New York, who died in February 1705; and in Philadelphia, about August 1, 1706, to Esther (Wilcox) James, who died in August 1724.
His first wife probably converted him to the Quaker faith, but the story that he withdrew from the Quakers and retired from public life because of his third marriage has no foundation. The manuscript records of the Society of Friends show, however, that Shippen was subjected to discipline, because he had anticipated the marriage relation with his third wife.
He had eleven children, of whom Joseph became the grandfather of Edward Shippen (1729 - 1806) and William Shippen.
