Edward Stirling (politician)

Edward Stirling
Stirling c. 1863
Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
In office 25 October 1855 – 28 February 1865
Personal details
Born	c. 1808 Jamaica
Died	2 February 1873(1873-02-02) (aged 64–65) London, England
Spouse	Harriett Taylor ​ (m. 1847)​
Children	Edward Charles Stirling (son) John Lancelot Stirling (son)
Relatives	William Stirling-Maxwell (half-brother) Bruce Ingram (grandson) Collingwood Ingram (grandson) Harriet Stirling (granddaughter)
Occupation	politician and businessman

Edward Stirling (c. 1808 – 2 February 1873) was an early settler of South Australia. He established several pastoral properties and was a co-founder of what became Elders Limited, also serving two terms in the South Australian Legislative Council.

Stirling was born in Jamaica, the illegitimate child of a Scottish planter and a Jamaican woman of colour; his mixed-race ancestry was not public knowledge. He was raised in Scotland and immigrated to South Australia in 1839, financed by his father's slave compensation. Stirling established a sheep run near Strathalbyn with his cousin, later added several other properties. He later moved to Adelaide and entered into a partnership with Thomas Elder and Robert Barr Smith, which became Elders Limited. He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1855 to 1865 and served on the board of the South Australian Banking Company, later representing the bank in London where he died. His sons Edward Charles and John Lancelot Stirling were also members of parliament.