Background
Sterling, eldest son of Captain Edward Sterling, by Hester, daughter of John Coningham of Derry, was born at Dundalk in 1805.
Sterling, eldest son of Captain Edward Sterling, by Hester, daughter of John Coningham of Derry, was born at Dundalk in 1805.
John Sterling, the man of letters, was a younger brother. After keeping some terms at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was on 18 February 1826 gazetted Ensign in the 24th Foot. From 21 March 1834 to 5 December 1843 he was a Captain in the 73rd Foot, and was then placed on half-pay.
He was on active service during the Crimean campaign of 1854-1855, first as Brigade Major of the Highland brigade and afterwards as assistant adjutant-general to the Highland division, including the battles of the Alma, Balaklava, and Inkerman, and the siege of Sebastopol.
In 1861 Lord Clyde accused Sterling of wilfully neglecting to insert the name of Colonel Pakenham in a list of persons recommended for reward by the bestowal of the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath at the close of the mutiny. This led to many letters, which are given in Correspondence concerning Charges made by Lord Clyde against Sir Anthony Sterling, March 1861 (privately printed 1863).
He was gazetted Central Bank on 5 July 1855, and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 21 July 1860. He died at 3 South Place, Knightsbridge, London, on 1 March 1871, having married in 1829 Charlotte, daughter of Major-general Joseph Baird.
She died on 10 April 1863.