Emma Maitland Stirling (1839 - 1907) was a British activist in child welfare and in arranging their emigration to Canada.

Under the patronage of the John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair her organisation grew to eight homes that housed 300 children.

In 1882 Stirling visited Canada and reported at being disappointed at the lack of respect given to child emigrants from Britain.

[2] Stirling agreed to pay the legal costs on the condition that her name appeared on the title page of the Scottish society.

[4] Stirling was annoyed at the lack of support and she decided to devote herself to animal rights and died in Coatesville in Pennsylvania in 1907.