Sir Charles Norman Stirling (19 November 1901 – 5 April 1986) was a British diplomat who served as ambassador to Chile from 1951 to 1954 and ambassador to Portugal from 1955 to 1960.
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Early life and education
Stirling was born on 19 November 1901, the eldest son of F. H. Stirling of British Colombia. He was educated at Wellington College and Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
Career
Stirling joined the Diplomatic Service in 1925, and was posted to Prague as third secretary. He was then transferred to Peking in 1928, and there promoted to second secretary in 1930. After a three year spell at the Foreign Office, he was sent to Sofia in 1936 where he acted as chargé d'affaires in 1936 and 1937, and was promoted to first secretary in 1937.
After returning to the Foreign Office, Stirling was attached to the Export Credits Guarantee Department in 1938. The following year, he was seconded to the Ministry of Economic Warfare and headed the Neutral Trade department with the rank of assistant secretary. In 1942, he returned to the Foreign Office as acting counsellor heading the French department, and in 1946, was promoted to counsellor and posted to Lisbon where he also served as chargé d'affaires in 1947 and 1948. In 1949, he was appointed consul-general at Tangier.
From 1951 to 1954, Stirling served as ambassador to Chile. In 1955, he was appointed ambassador to Portugal, a post he held until his retirement in 1960.
Personal life and death
Stirling married Ann Moore in 1950 and they had two daughters and a son.
Stirling died on 5 April 1986, aged 84.
Honours
Stirling was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1941 New Year Honours, and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1955 New Year Honours.
He was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1957.