Frederick Stirling

Vice-Admiral Frederick Henry Stirling was a Royal Navy officer who served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station. He was a son of Admiral Sir James Stirling, the first Governor of Western Australia and Ellen Mangles.

Naval career

Having been born at sea on the barque Parmelia, off the Cape of Good Hope, Stirling was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1848. He went on to serve in the Black Sea during the Crimean War. Promoted to captain in 1860, he was given command of HMS Warrior and then HMS Clio. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Australia Squadron, in 1870 and Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station, in 1879. He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1877, and to vice-admiral in 1882.