Sir Thomas Stirling, 5th Baronet

Sir Thomas Stirling, 5th Baronet, of Ardoch (1733–1808), had a long, active military career in the British Army[1] largely as commanding officer of the Black Watch.

Sir Thomas Stirling commander of the Black Watch

In 1758 he came to America and served in the French and Indian War in the Canadian campaign. After the French and Indian War, the British Empire took control of the land between the British colonies west to the Mississippi River, north of the Ohio River. Captain Thomas Stirling departed Fort Pitt going down the Ohio River to Fort de Chartres to take possession of the Illinois for the Crown in October 1765.

In 1767 Stirling went back to England, but returned to America later to serve with the British forces during the Revolutionary War. Before his death he achieved the rank of General[2] and served as the Colonel of The 41st Regiment of Foot from 1790 until his death.[3][4][5]

He was a great uncle to Waite Stirling, who would become the first Anglican Bishop of the Falkland Islands. [6]