In July 1851, Stirling was promoted to rear admiral and in the following year served as Third Naval Lord at the Admiralty.
"In 1856 he was recalled because he had failed in the primary naval duty of finding and destroying the Russian squadron - partly, perhaps, because of his preoccupation with the self-imposed task of negotiating with Japan"[REF] Yet his agreements with Japan were ratified, and his conduct was officially commended.