Yates Stirling Jr.
Yates Stirling Jr. (April 30, 1872 – January 27, 1948) was a decorated and controversial rear admiral in the United States Navy whose 44-year career spanned from several years before the Spanish–American War to the mid-1930s. He was awarded the Navy Cross and French Legion of Honor for distinguished service during World War One. The elder son of Rear Admiral Yates Stirling, he was an outspoken advocate of American sea power as a strong deterrent to war and to protect and promote international commerce. During Stirling's naval career and following retirement, he was a frequent lecturer, newspaper columnist and author of numerous books and articles, including his memoirs, "Sea Duty: The Memoirs of a Fighting Admiral", published in 1939. Describing himself, Stirling wrote, "All my life I have been called a stormy petrel. I have never hesitated to use the pen to reveal what I considered should be brought to public attention, usually within the Navy, but often to a wider public. I seem to see some benefits that have come through those efforts. I have always believed that a naval man is disloyal to his country if he does not reveal acts that are doing harm to his service and show, if he can, how to remedy the fault. An efficient Navy cannot be run with 'yes men' only."
Archibald Stirling (British Army officer)
Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, Stirling joined the Scots Guards in 1889. He was promoted from second lieutenant to lieutenant on 4 May 1892 and captain on 24 June 1899. He served with the Egyptian Army from 1899 to 1900 (and was awarded the medal with clasp for Soudan) and in South Africa from 1900 to 1902 (for which he was awarded the South African medal with three clasps and the King's medal with two clasps). He retired from the service on 17 June 1903, receiving a gratuity, and became a captain in the Reserve of Officers. On 23 January 1904 he joined the Imperial Yeomanry as a major in Lovat's Scouts, transferring to the Territorial Force on 1 April 1908. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 18 August 1909 and was commanding officer of the 2nd Lovat Scouts. On 11 October 1915 Stirling was appointed a brigade commander, with the temporary rank of brigadier-general: he commanded the Highland Mounted Brigade at Gallipoli in 1915 and the 2nd Dismounted Brigade in Egypt in 1916. He was transferred to the Territorial Force Reserve as a lieutenant-colonel on 19 September 1916. On 21 February 1917 Stirling was elected as Unionist Member of Parliament for West Perthshire. He sat until the general election of 1918, when he unsuccessfully contested Kinross and Western Perthshire.