Stirling, William Alexander, Earl Of

1567?–1640, Scottish poet. He was tutor of Prince Henry of Scotland and went to England on the accession of James I. The holder of various government offices, he was made Viscount Stirling in 1630 and earl of Stirling in 1633. His work includes Aurora (1604), love sonnets; An Encouragement to Colonies (1624); and Four Monarchicke Tragedies (1664–67), on Croesus, Darius, Alexander, and Julius Caesar.

See his poetical works (ed. by L. E. Kastner and H. B. Charlton, 1921–29).