John Henry Starling was the official secretary to the Governor General of Australia from 1919–1927, serving Munro Ferguson, Forster and Stonehaven.

Having originally lived in Melbourne, Starling transferred to the Commonwealth Public Service in 1902 as a Clerk in the Governor General's office. He married Sarah Elizabeth May Price on 15 February 1911.

Starling transferred to the newly established Prime Minister's Department in February 1912 and was appointed chief clerk in September 1917. Finally, In June 1919 he succeeded (Sir) George Steward as official secretary to the governor-general and secretary to the Federal Executive Council. J.H. Starling was appointed O.B.E. in 1920 and C.M.G. in 1925. After the position of official secretary was abolished in 1927, John Starling continued as secretary to the Federal Executive Council until 1933, and in July 1929 he was promoted to assistant secretary of the department's territories branch. In 1933-35 he was secretary to the Prime Minister's Department and secretary to the Department of External Affairs.

Starling died in Canberra Community Hospital on 5 April 1966 and was cremated. He left behind two sons and a daughter.