Sir John Lancelot Stirling, (5 November 1849 – 24 May 1932), generally known as Sir Lancelot Stirling, was an Australian politician and grazier. He was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1881 to 1887, representing Mount Barker, and 1888 to 1890, representing Gumeracha. He was then a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1891 to 1932, representing the Southern District. He was President of the Legislative Council from 1901 to 1932 and was Chief Secretary in the seven-day Solomon Ministry of 1899. His non-continuous terms over several decades add up to a total of just under 49 years of service. He is, to date, the longest-serving politician in the history of South Australia.
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Career
Stirling was made a knight bachelor on 14 August 1902, after the honour had been announced in the 1902 Coronation Honours list published on 26 June 1902. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1909 and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1918.
Family
On 2 December 1882, Stirling married Florence Marion, daughter of Sir William Milne and was survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. His elder daughter Madge Mary Stirling (1887–1940) married Knox Lister Colley (1885 – 7 December 1934) on 28 January 1914. Knox was a grandson of R. B. Colley, first mayor of Glenelg.