Captain James Stirling
James Stirling was born on the 28th of January 1791, in Drumpellier, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was the fifth son of Andrew and Anne Stirling of Lanarkshire. Anne Stirling went on to have 15 children in all.
In August 1803, at the age of 12 years, Stirling entered the navy on the store-ship Camel, and in this ship, he sailed for the West Indies. On that station, Stirling was transferred to the Hercules of 74 guns, the flagship of Sir John Thomas Duckworth.
On the 27th of June 1805, he joined the HMS Glory, the flagship of his uncle, Rear-Admiral Charles Stirling and, in the following month at the age of 14 years, was present at the navel action off Cape Finisterre on the 22nd of July. Stirling remained with his uncle in the ships Sampson and Diadem, and, in 1807, served at the operations in the Rio de la Plata. On the 12th of August 1809, Stirling was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
In August 1803, at the age of 12 years, Stirling entered the navy on the store-ship Camel, and in this ship, he sailed for the West Indies. On that station, Stirling was transferred to the Hercules of 74 guns, the flagship of Sir John Thomas Duckworth.
On the 27th of June 1805, he joined the HMS Glory, the flagship of his uncle, Rear-Admiral Charles Stirling and, in the following month at the age of 14 years, was present at the navel action off Cape Finisterre on the 22nd of July. Stirling remained with his uncle in the ships Sampson and Diadem, and, in 1807, served at the operations in the Rio de la Plata. On the 12th of August 1809, Stirling was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
1810's
In 1811, Stirling sailed as a Flag-Lieutenant with his uncle to the West Indies. On the 19th of June 1812, whilst on that station, he was given command of the sloop Brazen, and held this command until the year 1818. In this sloop, Stirling served off the Mississippi river, in Hudson's Bay, in the North Sea, off the coast of Ireland, and in the Gulf of Mexico. The Treaty of Paris signed on the 20th of November 1815, ended the Napoleonic Wars and a large fleet was no longer needed. The Admiralty set about decommissioning ships and retiring officers. However, Stirling and Brazen received a stay of execution, as they were needed again in the West Indies. By June 1818, Brazen was in need of repair, and he returned with her to England.
On the 7th of December 1818, Stirling was promoted to post rank. (Once a captain was given a command, his name was "posted" in The London Gazette. Being "made post" is a most crucial event in an officer's career. Once an officer was promoted to post-captain, further promotion was strictly by seniority.)
On the 7th of December 1818, Stirling was promoted to post rank. (Once a captain was given a command, his name was "posted" in The London Gazette. Being "made post" is a most crucial event in an officer's career. Once an officer was promoted to post-captain, further promotion was strictly by seniority.)
1820's
A friend of Stirling's, Captain Mangles invited Stirling to visit a property called Woodbridge, in Surrey, where Stirling met for the first time, the then, 13-year-old Ellen Mangles, his future wife. Ellen was the daughter of James Mangles, an East India Company director and Member of Parliament.
On the 3rd of September 1823, the 32-year-old Stirling married Ellen Mangles on her 16th birthday, at Stoke Church, in Guildford, Surrey, and went on a nine-month honeymoon around Europe. On their return, Ellen gave birth to their first child, Andrew Stirling, at Woodbridge, on the 24th of October 1824.
On the 25th of January 1826, Stirling was recommissioned and appointed to H.M. Success. Stirling was then sent to Sydney, via Cape Town on a supply mission, and then exploration and information gathering for a potential settlement in north Australia. While in Sydney, Govenor Darling gave his approval for Stirling to explore the west coast, and on the 17th of January 1827, Success sailed from Sydney for the Swan, via Hobart in Van Diemen's Land. Governor Darling also sent Major Edmund Lockyer with a detachment of soldiers and some convicts to establish a fort at King George Sound (Albany) to deter the French from expanding into the area.
Success arrived off the west coast of Australia on the 5th of March 1827, and anchored near the northeast corner of Rottnest Island. Stirling's exploration of the Swan River then began with the government botanist, Charles Fraser and the official landscape artist Frederick Garling.
Stirling and his party of 18 men, completed the assignment in less than three weeks and his official assessment was based on this inspection. At the conclusion of the expedition, Fraser wrote a glowing report of the quality of the soil in the area. In reality, the soils of the area are quite poor, and Fraser would later be heavily criticised for the inaccuracy of his report.
On the 3rd of September 1823, the 32-year-old Stirling married Ellen Mangles on her 16th birthday, at Stoke Church, in Guildford, Surrey, and went on a nine-month honeymoon around Europe. On their return, Ellen gave birth to their first child, Andrew Stirling, at Woodbridge, on the 24th of October 1824.
On the 25th of January 1826, Stirling was recommissioned and appointed to H.M. Success. Stirling was then sent to Sydney, via Cape Town on a supply mission, and then exploration and information gathering for a potential settlement in north Australia. While in Sydney, Govenor Darling gave his approval for Stirling to explore the west coast, and on the 17th of January 1827, Success sailed from Sydney for the Swan, via Hobart in Van Diemen's Land. Governor Darling also sent Major Edmund Lockyer with a detachment of soldiers and some convicts to establish a fort at King George Sound (Albany) to deter the French from expanding into the area.
Success arrived off the west coast of Australia on the 5th of March 1827, and anchored near the northeast corner of Rottnest Island. Stirling's exploration of the Swan River then began with the government botanist, Charles Fraser and the official landscape artist Frederick Garling.
Stirling and his party of 18 men, completed the assignment in less than three weeks and his official assessment was based on this inspection. At the conclusion of the expedition, Fraser wrote a glowing report of the quality of the soil in the area. In reality, the soils of the area are quite poor, and Fraser would later be heavily criticised for the inaccuracy of his report.
Stirling then returned to Sydney by heading south, via Geographe Bay, and King George Sound, arriving off Sydney on the 16th of April 1827. After reporting with his assessment, Stirling returned to England heading north via Melville Island, Madras and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
In England, Stirling then lobbied the Foreign Office and the Admiralty for support for a settlement in the vicinity of the Swan River, describing it as ideal for a permanent establishment.
The British Government eventually agreed to a new colony but on the strict proviso that it was to be a purely capitalist affair and that no Government funds would be available to help settlers with the cost of passage. Instead, land grants were offered based on the value of goods and servants taken to the new colony. The deal was 40 acres of land for every 3 pounds worth of goods taken out. (Servants were valued at 15 pounds a head.)
In England, Stirling then lobbied the Foreign Office and the Admiralty for support for a settlement in the vicinity of the Swan River, describing it as ideal for a permanent establishment.
The British Government eventually agreed to a new colony but on the strict proviso that it was to be a purely capitalist affair and that no Government funds would be available to help settlers with the cost of passage. Instead, land grants were offered based on the value of goods and servants taken to the new colony. The deal was 40 acres of land for every 3 pounds worth of goods taken out. (Servants were valued at 15 pounds a head.)
Stirling was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the future settlement at the Swan River in December 1828. Stirling and his growing family, then sailed out to the new colony on the Pamelia, and on the 18th of June 1829, after and eventful arrival, the ship dropped anchor off Garden Island.
On Stirling’s arrival, his family consisted of four persons, himself aged 38, his wife aged 22 years, his eldest son aged 3 years and his second child, in arms. His son, Frederick Stirling had been born on the Pamelia. Stirling brought out with him eight servants. The first few weeks were spent on Garden Island in makeshift buildings before Stirling selected Perth, up the Swan River, to be the capital. The first Vice Regal residence was initially a tent camp, set up on Garden Island, oppisite the suburb now known as Rockingham, between June and September 1829.
Following the founding of Perth on the banks of the Swan River in August 1829, Stirling and his family moved to a site on the corner of St George’s Terrace and Barrack Street, Perth (now Stirling Gardens). In 1832, canvas tents gave way to a temporary wooden building for the Vice Regal family in that location.
Stirling administered the Swan River settlement from June 1829 until the 11th of August 1832. However, he was commissioned as Governor of Western Australia only from the 6th of February 1832, rectifying the absence of a legal instrument providing the authority detailed in Stirling's Instructions of the 30th of December 1828.
Later, in August 1832, with the colony needing funds, Stirling (and his family) left on an extended visit to England where Stirling was knighted as a Knight Bachelor on the 3rd of May 3, 1833. The family then returned to Perth, via Albany. Serving in Perth from August 1834 until December 1838. At no time during his ten-year term did the settlers number more than 3,000 men, women and children.
Some of Stirling's actions during the administration of the Colony are controversial and have been proved to be dishonourable.
On Stirling’s arrival, his family consisted of four persons, himself aged 38, his wife aged 22 years, his eldest son aged 3 years and his second child, in arms. His son, Frederick Stirling had been born on the Pamelia. Stirling brought out with him eight servants. The first few weeks were spent on Garden Island in makeshift buildings before Stirling selected Perth, up the Swan River, to be the capital. The first Vice Regal residence was initially a tent camp, set up on Garden Island, oppisite the suburb now known as Rockingham, between June and September 1829.
Following the founding of Perth on the banks of the Swan River in August 1829, Stirling and his family moved to a site on the corner of St George’s Terrace and Barrack Street, Perth (now Stirling Gardens). In 1832, canvas tents gave way to a temporary wooden building for the Vice Regal family in that location.
Stirling administered the Swan River settlement from June 1829 until the 11th of August 1832. However, he was commissioned as Governor of Western Australia only from the 6th of February 1832, rectifying the absence of a legal instrument providing the authority detailed in Stirling's Instructions of the 30th of December 1828.
Later, in August 1832, with the colony needing funds, Stirling (and his family) left on an extended visit to England where Stirling was knighted as a Knight Bachelor on the 3rd of May 3, 1833. The family then returned to Perth, via Albany. Serving in Perth from August 1834 until December 1838. At no time during his ten-year term did the settlers number more than 3,000 men, women and children.
Some of Stirling's actions during the administration of the Colony are controversial and have been proved to be dishonourable.
In January 1839, when there were prospects of war back in Europe, Stirling resigned his office to continue his navel career and proceed on active service.
His wife Ellen was also eager to go home to England, being tired of the restricted social round and apprehensive about the education of her elder children. Lady Ellen Stirling had given birth to seven children during her ten years in Western Australia. One had died in infancy. Another three daughters were born following her return to Britain. Ellen had maintained a gentrified style of living and as the colony’s pre-eminent lady presided at race meetings, hunts and other ‘entertainments’. Her charm and youth are said to have reflected well on her husband, softening some of the criticism of his governorship. |
During the years 1840 to 1844, Stirling commanded the HMS Indus with 78 guns on the Mediterranean station, with instructions to "show the flag" and keep an eye on the French. Then, during the years 1847 to 1850, Stirling was given his fourth command of HMS Howe of 120 guns on the same station. He was created a Knight Grand Cross of the order of the Redeemer of Greece. In 1849, HMS Howe was recalled to England and paid off.
1850's
On the 8th of July 1851, Sir James Stirling was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral and served as Third Naval Lord at the Admiralty. From January 1854 to February 1856, Stirling's fifth and final command was as Commander in Chief, China and the East Indies Station, and his flag, as 'Rear Admiral of the White', was hoisted on HMS Winchester on the 11th of May 1854.
In 1857, Stirling was given the rank of Vice-Admiral, and, in 1862, that of Admiral. He then retired. |
Admiral Sir James Stirling died on the 22nd of April 1865, in comfortable retirement at his home in Woodbridge Park, near Guildford in Surrey. Sir James still had property in Perth and Bunbury. New of his death was barely mentioned in the Perth press. Lady Ellen Stirling survived him by nine years until the 8th of June 1874, in her 67th year, she died at Windsor. Ellen had lived to see her eldest son, Frederick Stirling, (who was born on the Pamelia) take command of the naval squadron in Australian waters. Frederick was the only son that married. Ellen Stirling (née Mangles, 1807– 8 June 1874) was known in her lifetime as the ‘mother of Western Australia’. Stirling and his wife Ellen were buried in the extension to the graveyard of St John's Church on Stoke Road, near Guildford, where they had been married many years before. |
It was not until 1979 that a statue in Stirling's honour was constructed in Perth. His Royal Highness, Prince Charles unveiled the statue in front of the former R&I Bank office in Barrack Street, on Saturday the 10th of March 1979, for WA’s 150th anniversary. This was near where 'Perth' was proclaimed back in August 1829. The statue was donated by the Channel 9/6KY Group. It is now located outside the City of Perth Library.
References: OFFICIAL PAPERS RELATING TO The Settlement at Swan River, West Australia. December 1826—January 1830.
Wikipedia at 2023
Wikipedia at 2023
Copyright © 2019