British Admiral and the first Governor of Western Australia. He was the fifth son and the eighth of the fifteen children of Andrew and Anne Stirling. Anne was his father's first cousin, being the daughter of Admiral Sir Walter Stirling and the sister of Sir Walter Stirling, first baronet. At the age of 12 James entered the navy as a first-class volunteer, embarking on the storeship Camel for the West Indies. He saw action off Cape Finisterre against the French and Spanish fleets, and later served in the Sampson and the Diadem in the operations on the Rio de la Plata. In 1811 he was flag lieutenant to his uncle, who was then in command at Jamaica. On 27 February 1812 he received his first command, the sloop Moselle, and soon afterwards the larger sloop Brazen, in which he was employed during the American War of 1812. In 1823 he married Ellen Mangles; they had five sons and six daughters. The Stirlings toured the Continent, and after their return lived at Woodbridge until renewed naval activity by the French brought a welcome change in Stirling's prospects. In April 1826 he was given command of the Success with instructions to take a supply of currency to Sydney and then to move the Melville Island garrison. Upon his arrival he was appointed Governor of Western Australia. He administered the Swan River settlement from June 1829 until August 1832, when he left on an extended visit to England where he was knighted, and again from August 1834 until December 1838. In his early administration Stirling took a leading part in exploring the coastal districts near the Swan, Murray, Collie, Preston, Blackwood and Vasse Rivers. In July 1851 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and next year served at the Admiralty. From January 1854 to February 1856, Stirling was commander-in-chief of British naval forces in China and the East Indies, and he was promoted to Vice-Admiral in August 1857, the year in which his youngest son, Walter, was killed at Cawnpore in the Indian mutiny. He became a full Admiral in November 1862, and died in comfortable retirement. His wife survived him by nine years and lived to see her eldest son, Frederick, take command of the naval squadron in Australian waters.
British Admiral and the first Governor of Western Australia. He was the fifth son and the eighth of the fifteen children of Andrew and Anne Stirling. Anne was his father's first cousin, being the daughter of Admiral Sir Walter Stirling and the sister of Sir Walter Stirling, first baronet. At the age of 12 James entered the navy as a first-class volunteer, embarking on the storeship Camel for the West Indies. He saw action off Cape Finisterre against the French and Spanish fleets, and later served in the Sampson and the Diadem in the operations on the Rio de la Plata. In 1811 he was flag lieutenant to his uncle, who was then in command at Jamaica. On 27 February 1812 he received his first command, the sloop Moselle, and soon afterwards the larger sloop Brazen, in which he was employed during the American War of 1812. In 1823 he married Ellen Mangles; they had five sons and six daughters. The Stirlings toured the Continent, and after their return lived at Woodbridge until renewed naval activity by the French brought a welcome change in Stirling's prospects. In April 1826 he was given command of the Success with instructions to take a supply of currency to Sydney and then to move the Melville Island garrison. Upon his arrival he was appointed Governor of Western Australia. He administered the Swan River settlement from June 1829 until August 1832, when he left on an extended visit to England where he was knighted, and again from August 1834 until December 1838. In his early administration Stirling took a leading part in exploring the coastal districts near the Swan, Murray, Collie, Preston, Blackwood and Vasse Rivers. In July 1851 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and next year served at the Admiralty. From January 1854 to February 1856, Stirling was commander-in-chief of British naval forces in China and the East Indies, and he was promoted to Vice-Admiral in August 1857, the year in which his youngest son, Walter, was killed at Cawnpore in the Indian mutiny. He became a full Admiral in November 1862, and died in comfortable retirement. His wife survived him by nine years and lived to see her eldest son, Frederick, take command of the naval squadron in Australian waters.
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