Houston Stewart

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Houston Stewart GCB (3 August 1791 - 10 December 1875) was a Royal Navy officer.

Born at Springkell, near Kirtlebridge, Dumfriesshire, the son of Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, 5th Bart., of Greenock and Blackhall, Stewart joined the Royal Navy in February 1805. After service at Walcheren in 1809 he was posted to the Jamaica Station as a commander. After promotion to captain, he was in charge of "HMS Menai" and the Halifax dockyard. He served in the Syrian War as captain of the "Benbow". Thereafter the was Captain-Superintendent of Woolwich Dockyard, Controller-General of the Coastguard and a Commissioner of the Admiralty (3th then 2nd Naval Lord). He was made a Rear-Admiral in 1851.

During the Crimean War, Stewart was second in command of the Black Sea and was in command at the capture of Kinburn. His flag in was in "HMS Hannibal". Thereafter he was Superintendent of Devonport dockyard, Commander-in-chief, North America and West Indies and Commander-in-chief, HMNB Devonport. Appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital in 1869, he became Admiral of the Fleet in 1872. In February 1852 he was elected as MP for Greenwich but only lasted until July of the same year before losing his seat.

He married, in 1819, Martha, youngest daughter of Lord Glenlee, and had three sons, the eldest of whom was Admiral Sir William Houston Stewart GCB.

References

* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9506E0DD103BEF34BC4B52DFB467838E669FDE New York Times: Obituary; VICE ADMIRAL SIR HOUSTON STEWART, G.C.B. December 13, 1875]
* [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=96 Profile]