On 1 April 1810 Stirling was transferred from the "Warspite" to under Captain R.D. Drum and moved with Drum when the Captain was transferred to in November. A year later, on 20 November 1811, he received a significant elevation to flag lieutenant on , the flagship of his uncle, now vice-admiral and commander-in-chief of the Jamaica Station. On 3 March 1812, he was appointed acting commander of the sloop and three months later, at age 21, he was promoted to the rank of commander. Soon after that he was given command of the 28-gun sloop , built in 1808, in which he was to serve for six years.