John Lancelot Stirling
Encyclopedia
Sir John Lancelot Stirling KCMG (5 November 1849 – 24 May 1932) was an Australia
n politician and grazier.
, the son of Edward Stirling (1804-1873) and his wife Harriett, née Taylor and brother of Sir Edward Charles Stirling
. J. L. Stirling was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he graduated B.A. and LL.B
Stirling was a good athlete and, representing Cambridge
against Oxford
, won the 120 yards hurdles. Stirling also won the amateur championship of England in this event in 1870 and again in 1872, his time in the latter year being 16.8 seconds, considered a good performance at that time.
in 1872, but never practised. Stirling returned to South Australia
soon afterwards, became a pastoralist, and bred prize horse
s and merino
sheep. He entered the South Australian Legislative Assembly in 1881 for Mount Barker, and afterwards represented Gumeracha until 1890, when he became a member of the South Australian Legislative Council
. In December 1899 Stirling was chief secretary in the Vaiben Solomon
cabinet but this ministry was defeated directly the house met. In 1901 Stirling was elected President of the Legislative Council, and continued hold that position until his death on 24 May 1932.
With Governor Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore
, Stirling crossed the continent from Darwin
to Adelaide
in 1891 and collected ethnological and zoological specimens.
On 2 December 1882, Stirling married Florence Marion, daughter of Sir William Milne
and was survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. Stirling was knighted in 1902, created KCMG in 1909 and OBE in 1918. He continued his interest in sport all his life, pioneering polo
in South Australia and captaining the team which twice beat Victoria. For a time Stirling was master of the Adelaide Hounds and was a well-known figure at racing meetings. For seven years Stirling was president of the South Australian Royal Agricultural Society, he was president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
, the Pastoralists' Association, the St Peter's Old Collegians Association, the Caledonian Society, the South Australian Zoological and Acclimatization Society, and was a member of the Adelaide University council.
Stirling also possessed a good business sense and was a director of well-known companies. In politics he was respected as a man of individuality but not regarded as a first-rate speaker. Stirling found his ideal position as president of the council, admirably carrying out his duties; as the years passed becoming a kind of elder brother to the newer members.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician and grazier.
Early life
Stirling was born at Strathalbyn, South AustraliaStrathalbyn, South Australia
Strathalbyn is a town in South Australia, in the Alexandrina Council. The town has a population of 3894 people.-History and Culture:The town was founded in 1839. Strathalbyn was once connected by broad gauge horse tram to Goolwa and Victor Harbor from 1869, and the line was extended to Mount Barker...
, the son of Edward Stirling (1804-1873) and his wife Harriett, née Taylor and brother of Sir Edward Charles Stirling
Edward Charles Stirling
Sir Edward Charles Stirling was an Australian anthropologist and the first professor of physiology at the University of Adelaide.-Early life:...
. J. L. Stirling was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, , is an independent boy's school in the South Australian capital of Adelaide...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he graduated B.A. and LL.B
Stirling was a good athlete and, representing Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
against Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, won the 120 yards hurdles. Stirling also won the amateur championship of England in this event in 1870 and again in 1872, his time in the latter year being 16.8 seconds, considered a good performance at that time.
Career
Stirling read for the bar and was admitted at the Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1872, but never practised. Stirling returned to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
soon afterwards, became a pastoralist, and bred prize horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s and merino
Merino
The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...
sheep. He entered the South Australian Legislative Assembly in 1881 for Mount Barker, and afterwards represented Gumeracha until 1890, when he became a member of the South Australian Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
. In December 1899 Stirling was chief secretary in the Vaiben Solomon
Vaiben Solomon
Vaiben Louis Solomon was the 21st Premier of South Australia and a member of the first Australian Commonwealth parliament....
cabinet but this ministry was defeated directly the house met. In 1901 Stirling was elected President of the Legislative Council, and continued hold that position until his death on 24 May 1932.
With Governor Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore
Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore
Algernon Hawkins Thogond Keith-Falconer, 9th Earl of Kintore PC, GCMG, was a British politician and colonial governor.-Biography:...
, Stirling crossed the continent from Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in 1891 and collected ethnological and zoological specimens.
On 2 December 1882, Stirling married Florence Marion, daughter of Sir William Milne
William Milne (politician)
Sir William Milne was an Australian entrepreneur and politician, serving as the member for Onkaparinga in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1857-1868 and President of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1873 to 1881.Born in Wester-Common, near Glasgow, Milne was educated in...
and was survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. Stirling was knighted in 1902, created KCMG in 1909 and OBE in 1918. He continued his interest in sport all his life, pioneering polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
in South Australia and captaining the team which twice beat Victoria. For a time Stirling was master of the Adelaide Hounds and was a well-known figure at racing meetings. For seven years Stirling was president of the South Australian Royal Agricultural Society, he was president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit animal welfare organization originally founded in England in 1824 to pass laws protecting carriage horses from abuse. SPCA groups are now found in many nations, where they campaign for animal welfare, assist in cruelty to animals...
, the Pastoralists' Association, the St Peter's Old Collegians Association, the Caledonian Society, the South Australian Zoological and Acclimatization Society, and was a member of the Adelaide University council.
Stirling also possessed a good business sense and was a director of well-known companies. In politics he was respected as a man of individuality but not regarded as a first-rate speaker. Stirling found his ideal position as president of the council, admirably carrying out his duties; as the years passed becoming a kind of elder brother to the newer members.