 Shaughnessy was educated at Summer Fields then Eton, and then went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst with the intention of joining the Grenadier Guards.However, in 1935 he resigned on grounds of conscience once stating he didn't wish a career dedicated "to learning to kill men".He then had an unsuccessful time at the London Stock Exchange, and had a hectic social life, with debutante balls, shooting parties and country weekends.