Admiral Sir James Stirling

Admiral Sir James Stirling RN (January 28, 1791–April 23, 1865) was a British marine officer and colonial administrator. He was the first Governor of Western Australia (1828–38) and on his own initiative signed Britain's first limited treaty with Japan in 1854. Image File history File links James Stirling Image downloaded from Constutional Centre of Western Australia website File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links James Stirling Image downloaded from Constutional Centre of Western Australia website File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Admiral (disambiguation). ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... January 28 is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... April 23 is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... Flag of the Governor of Western Australia The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australias head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including: presiding over the Executive Council; proroguing and dissolving the Legislative Assembly and the... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... On October 14, 1854 the first limited treaty between Britain and Japan (called the Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty, Nichi-Ei Washin Joyaku 日英和親条約) was signed in Nagasaki by Admiral Sir James Stirling and the governors of Nagasaki (Nagasaki bugyō) as representatives of the Tokugawa shogunate (Bakufu). ...

Family background

He was the fifth son of eight of the fifteen children of Andrew Stirling, Esq. of Drumpellier near Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. His mother, Anne was his father's second cousin, being the daughter of Admiral Sir Walter Stirling and the sister of Sir Walter Stirling, 1st Baronet of Faskine and Admiral Sir Charles Stirling. Drumpellier is a country park situated within North Lanarkshire Council, to the west of Coatbridge and east of Easterhouse, Glasgow, the park was formerly a private estate[1]. The land was given over to the Burgh of Coatbridge for use as a public park in 1919, and was designated as... Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland approximately 9 miles east of Glasgow. ... Location Geography Area Ranked 19th  - Total 470 km²  - % Water  ? Admin HQ Motherwell ISO 3166-2 GB-NLK ONS code 00QZ Demographics Population Ranked 4th  - Total (2005) 323,420  - Density 688 / km² Scottish Gaelic  - Total () {{{Scottish council Gaelic Speakers}}} Politics North Lanarkshire Council http://www. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English (de facto)1; Gaelic[1]2 and Scots3 (recognised minority... Sir Walter Stirling of Faskine, Commander in Chief at the Nore, 1781. ... Charles Stirling Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Stirling (28 April 1760–7 November 1833) was a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy. ...

The Stirling family was well-known and celebrated in the naval annals of the 18th century. With such a family background, it was natural for James to enter the Royal Navy, and at the age of 12 (in 1803) he joined up as a first-class volunteer, embarking on the storeship Camel for the West Indies. Thus began a distinguished career. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... “West Indian” redirects here. ...

Career

West Indies

Soon after arriving in the West Indies, young Stirling became midshipman of the Hercules, and in 1805 he went to serve in his uncle's flagship 'Glory'.

In that year he saw action off Cape Finisterre during the Napoleonic Wars against the French and Spanish fleets, and later served under the flag of his uncle in the Sampson and the Diadem in the operations on the Rio de la Plata. After watching the fall of Montevideo and being incorrectly reported as killed in action, he served for a time on the Home Station and on 12 August 1809, at the age of 19 was promoted Lieutenant in the Warspite. In 1811 he was Flag Lieutenant to his uncle, now Vice Admiral in command at Jamaica. Position of Cape Finisterre on the Iberian Peninsula Cape Finisterre, in Spanish Cabo Finisterre, literally Cape Lands End, is a rock-bound peninsula in the north-west of Spain. ... Combatants Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Denmark [7] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack von Leiberich Gebhard von Blücher Duke of Brunswick Prince of... The term Rio de la Plata may refer to the following: Rio de la Plata, a river in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico River Plate, an Estuary in South America This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... Department Montevideo Department Altitude 43 m Coordinates 34º 53S 56º 10W Founded 1726 Founder Bruno Mauricio de Zabala Population 1,325,968 (2004) (1st) Demonym Montevideano Phone Code +02 Postal Code 10000 Montevideo (IPA: ) is the capital, largest city, and chief port of Uruguay. ... is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1809 (MDCCCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... An aide-de-camp (French for camp assistant) is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state. ... Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ...

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 War of 1812 in harassing forts and shipping near the[Mississipi River] is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the overture by Tchaikovsky, see 1812 Overture; For the wars, see War of 1812 (USA - United Kingdom) or Patriotic War of 1812 (France - Russia) For the Siberia Airlines plane crashed over the Black Sea on October 4, 2001, see Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 1812 was a leap year starting... Combatants United States Great Britain Canada Bermuda Eastern Woodland Indians Commanders James Madison Henry Dearborn Jacob Brown Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson George Prevost Isaac Brock† Tecumseh† Strength •United States Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates:6 •Other...

Surrey

At Woodbridge, Surrey, he became acquainted with the Mangles family, whose wealthy head had extensive interests in the East Indies, had been High Sheriff for Surrey in 1808, was a director of the British East India Company, and in 1832–37 represented Guildford in Parliament. His third daughter, Ellen, attracted Stirling's attention and the couple were married at Stoke Church, Guildford on 3 September 1823 on Ellen's 16th birthday. They had five sons and six daughters. Not to be confused with Surry. ... The Indies, on the display globe of the Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term used to describe lands of South and Southeast Asia, occupying all of the former British India, the present Indian Union, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... Not to be confused with Guilford. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons The Right Honourable Michael Martin MP Lord Speaker Hélène Hayman, Baroness Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups (as of May 5, 2005 elections) Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats... is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Western Australia

In 1826, the Governor of New South Wales, Governor Darling sent Stirling on the Success to visit and report on the west coast of Australia. Stirling was impressed with the land in the vicinity of the Swan River describing it as ideal for establishing a permanent settlement. In particular, he was pleased with the defensive prospects of Mount Eliza (the large hill which Kings Park is on), situated as it is near the narrows of the Swan River, which would make defending the colony from gunships easy, with just a few cannons. For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... HMS Success was a 28-gun sixth rate wooden sailing ship of the Royal Navy. ... The first detailed map of the Swan River, drawn by François-Antoine Boniface Heirisson in 1801 Black swan and family The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. ... Mount Eliza is a hill which overlooks the city of Perth, Western Australia and forms part of Kings Park. ... Lemon-scented gums along Fraser Avenue, Kings Park Kings Park (, ) is a natural bushland park located in Perth, Western Australia. ...

On returning to London in 1828, Stirling lobbied officials to enlist support for a settlement to be established in Western Australia. He finally succeeded and on 9 February 1829 he departed Plymouth in the Parmelia, arriving at what became known as the Swan River Colony on 31 May. Stirling administered the new colony until December 1838. With the creation of the Western Australian Legislative Council in 1830, Stirling automatically became an official member. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... , Plymouth (Cornish: ) is a city of 243,795 inhabitants (2001 census) in the south-west of England, or alternatively the West Country, and is situated within the traditional and ceremonial county of Devon at the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and at the head of one of the... The Parmelia was a barque that was used to transport the first civilian officials and settlers of the Swan River Colony to Western Australia in 1829. ... Swan River Colony was a British settlement established at the Swan River on the west coast of Australia in 1829. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. ...

In October 1834 Stirling led a detachment of 25 armed troopers and settlers including Septimus Roe and Thomas Peel that attacked an encampment of 60-80 Pindjarep Aboriginal people. The Pindjarep fled into the bush and were later encircled near a crossing on the Pinjarra River, Stirling referred to this as the Battle of Pinjarra. Settlers accounts claim between 10-80 aboriginals died compared to aboriginal oral history which claim 150 people died.^{[1] [2]} John Septimus Roe (May 8, 1797–28 May 1878) was the first Surveyor-General of Western Australia. ... Thomas Peel (1795-1864) was one of the very early settlers of Western Australia. ... The Binjareb, Pindjarup or Pinjareb is the name of the Indigenous Australian group of Noongar speakers, living in the region of South West Western Australia between Port Kennedy on the coast, between Rockingham and Mandurah to Australind on the Leschenault Inlet, and between a point between Byford and Armadale on... Combatants British colonists Pinjarup tribe Commanders Governor Captain James Stirling Possibly Calyute Strength 25 soldiers 60-80 men, women and children Casualties Unknown 14-40 dead, unknown injured The Battle of Pinjarra was a conflict that occurred in Pinjarra, Western Australia, between a group of 60-80 Australian Aborigines and...

Stirling remained entirely unsympathetic to the needs of Aboriginal people in Western Australia, and never recognised their prior ownership of the land despite the fact that the Buxton Committee of the British House of Commons informed him that this was a mistake for which the new colony would suffer. Stirling mentioned in dispatches that the Aborigines "must gradually disappear" and the "most anxious and judicious measures of the local government [could] prevent the ulterior extinction of the race".

As recognition of his service in establishing the colony Stirling was granted land near Beverley, Western Australia. This land, along with neighbouring properties was re-acquired by the Western Australian Government, who later subdivided the land into farmlets for returning soldiers. The remaining land was later used to establish the Avondale Agricultural Research Station, which includes Stirling's restored homestead. RAAF De Havilland Vampire at Beverley museum. ... Avondale Agriculture Research Station is situated on land where the Avon and Dale rivers meet 10km northwest of Beverley, Western Australia. ...

Mediterranean

In October 1840 he was appointed to command the Indus in the Mediterranean where he remained until June 1844. After another three years ashore he was appointed to the Howe which he commanded from April 1847 to April 1850 when he was knighted by the King of Greece.

Far East

In July 1851, Stirling was promoted Rear Admiral and in the following year served at the Admiralty. From January 1854 to February 1856 Stirling was commander in chief of the naval forces in China and the East Indies. The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ... Flag of the Lord High Admiral The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ...

Using gunboat diplomacy he signed the first British treaty with Japan (the Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty) on October 14, 1854 "In 1856 he was recalled because he had failed in the primary naval duty of finding and destroying the Russian squadron - partly, perhaps, because of his preoccupation with the self-imposed task of negotiating with Japan" (Beasley, p. 144). Yet his agreements with Japan were ratified, and his conduct was officially commended. In international politics, gunboat diplomacy refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power—implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare, should terms not be agreeable to the superior force. ... On October 14, 1854 the first limited treaty between Britain and Japan (called the Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty, Nichi-Ei Washin Joyaku 日英和親条約) was signed in Nagasaki by Admiral Sir James Stirling and the governors of Nagasaki (Nagasaki bugyō) as representatives of the Tokugawa shogunate (Bakufu). ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Retirement

Stirling was promoted Vice Admiral in August 1857. He became an Admiral in November 1862 and died in comfortable retirement at Guildford in Surrey on 22 April 1865 aged 74. His wife survived him by nine years and both were buried in the extension to the graveyard of Stoke Church where they had been married. Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ... For other uses, see Admiral (disambiguation). ... is the 112th day of the year (113th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Stoke Church's social centre and hall is named The Stirling Centre in recognition of him.

References

1. ^ This week in history. FRANK DUNN. Sunday Times (Perth)(Perth, Australia). October 23, 2005.
2. ^ ABORIGINALS AND SETTLERS. SUSAN HEWITT. The West Australian (Perth). FEATURES; Pg. 2. May 26, 2004.

• Great Britain and the Opening of Japan, 1834-1858 by W.G. Beasley (Japan Library paperback, 1995, first published by Luzac & Co., 1951) ISBN 1-873410-43-3
• Serle, Percival (1949). "Stirling, James". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. 

The Sunday Times is the name of several Sunday newspapers. ... The West Australian (often simply called The West) is Perths only locally edited daily newspaper, and is owned by ASX-listed West Australian Newspapers Limited. ... The Dictionary of Australian Biography, first published in 1949, is a reference work by Percival Serle containing information on notable people associated with Australian history. ...

Further reading

• Hasluck, Alexandra.James Stirling.Melbourne: Oxford University Press. 1963.
• Statham-Drew, Pamela. James Stirling : admiral and founding governor of Western Australia Crawley, W.A. : University of Western Australia Press, 2003. ISBN 1876268948

See also

Wikisource has original works written by or about:

James Stirling

• Anglo-Japanese relations

Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... The original Wikisource logo. ... This page describes the history of the relationship between the United Kingdom and Japan. ...

External links

• Celebrate W.A. site - very detailed and the source of much of the above
• The Constitution Centre of Western Australia (2002). "Captain Sir James Stirling 1828-1839", Governors and Premiers of Western Australia. West Perth, Western Australia: The Constitution Centre of Western Australia. ISBN 0-7307-3821-3.