Born at the Satsuma residence in Edo, eldest son of lord Shimazu Narioki. Influenced by his great-grandfather Shigehide, he took a keen interest in Western learning.
His father long refused to step down, and a succession struggle broke out (the Oyura Disturbance).
At last he became lord of Satsuma.
In Kagoshima he built reverberatory and blast furnaces and glassworks, launching modern industry (the Shūseikan project); Satsuma cut glass dates from this time.
He spotted the talent of the low-ranking Saigō Takamori and kept him close, training him.
He married his adopted daughter Atsuhime to the shogun Tokugawa Iesada.
Backing Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu as next shogun, he was preparing to lead troops to Kyoto when he died suddenly of illness in Kagoshima.
Saigō TakamoriShimazu HisamitsuYamauchi Yōdō (Toyoshige)Komatsu Tatewaki (Kiyokado)Atsuhime (Tenshō-in)Terashima MunenoriMatsukata MasayoshiSaigō Tsugumichi
Kawaji ToshiakiraTakano ChōeiTownsend HarrisFujita TokoYokoi ShōnanOgata KōanHotta MasayoshiSakuma Shōzan
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.