William Houston Stewart

Admiral Sir William Houston Stewart (1822-1901) was a British naval officer who was Controller of the Royal Navy from 1872 to 1881.

Personal life

William Houston Stewart was born on 7 September 1822 at Kirkmichael House, Ayrshire. He was the son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Houston Stewart (1791-1875), [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=976 Online biography William Houston Stewart.] ] and Martha (d. 1870), youngest daughter of Sir William Miller, Bart (1785-1846). [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=96 Online biography Houston Stewart.]
[http://www.thepeerage.com/p7070.htm#i70695 ThePeerage.Com:- Admiral Sir William Houston Stewart and Martha Miller] ] William Houston Stewart is sometimes referred to as William Houston Shaw-Stewart; his paternal grandfather was Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart, Bt (1766-1825). [> [http://www.t4hepeerage.com/p7070.htm#i70695 ThePeerage.Com:- Admiral Sir Houston Stewart]
[http://www.thepeerage.com/p25233.htm Catherine Elizabeth Coote and Sir William Houston Shaw-Stewart] ]

On 20 February 1850, he married Catherine Elizabeth Coote (1829-1867), only daughter of Eyre Coote (1806-1834) of West Park, Hampshire. Catherine died on 23 November 1867. [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p25233.htm ThePeerage.Com:- Catherine Elizabeth Coote] ]

His remarried on 11 January 1872, this time to Blanche Caroline (1845-1927), [ [http://www.geneall.net/U/per_page.php?id=80115 Geneall:- Blanche Caroline Stewart.]
[http://worldroots.com/brigitte/famous/m/maryenglanddesc1496-41.htm World Roots:- Blanche Caroline Stewart] says she was born 17 October 1845, died 17 September 1927, and married on 11 Jan 1872, (i.e. she was 26 when she married her 49 year old husband).] the third child of Admiral Hon. Keith Stewart (1814-1879), and Mary Caroline Stewart (nee Fitzroy) (1823-95). [ [http://www.geneall.net/U/per_page.php?id=87739 Geneall:- Mary Fitzroy.] ] They had one daughter: Blanche Nita Mary Stewart (d. 1947). [ [http://www.geneall.net/U/per_page.php?id=410149 Geneall:- Blanche Nita Mary Stewart.] ] [ [http://www.thepeerage.com/p7070.htm The Peerage.Com:- Blanche Nita Mary Stewart] ]

Early career

Stewart entered the Navy on 29 April 1835. He served as lieutenant on 28-gun frigate "Volage" from 29 June 1843 until March 1843, though officially he was not promoted to Lieutenant until 26 September 1842. "Volage" was commanded by Captain William Dickson, and was on the North America and West Indies station. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2267 History HMS "Volage"] ] In March 1843 he was appointed lieutenant in the 74-gun two-decker "Illustrious", commanded by Captain John Elphinstone Erskine, flagship of Vice-Admiral Charles Adam, on the North America and West Indies station. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=1594 History HMS "Illustrious"] ] In 1844, he was appointed lieutenant in the 16-gun brig-sloop "Ringdove", serving on the west coast of Africa station. The captain of "Ringdove", Commander Sir William Daniell, died in command at Sierra Leone on 12 September 1845. (The previous commander of "Ringdove" was Commander Keith Stewart, whose daughter Blanche was later to become William Stewart's second wife.) [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=1989 History of HMS "Ringdove"] ] William Stewart's next appointment was as lieutenant in the 50-gun razee frigate "Grampus", which was commissioned at Woolwich by Captain Henry Byam Martin, and then went out to the Pacific station. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2202 History HMS "Tremendous"] ] Stewart served in "Grampus" until 1847, when he studied steam engineering at Woolwich. On 18 May 1848, he was promoted to commander.

On 5 August 1851, Commander Stewart commissioned the 6-gun paddle-sloop "Virago" at Woolwich. "Virago" served on the Pacific station. [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2260 History HMS "Virago"] ] On 4 December 1851, "Virago" put into the Chilean port of Punta Arenas in the Strait of Magellan. [http://patlibros.org/iam/trx.php?trx=04 Chapter IV, Brown, Charles H., "Insurrection at Magellan. Narrative of the Imprisonment and Escape of Capt. Chas. H. Brown, from the Chilian Convicts", published by Geo. C. Rand, Boston, Second Edition, 1854.] ] This city was "a penitentiary colony for relapsing criminals and relegated military". [ [http://www.interpatagonia.com/puntaarenas/historia_i.html Punta Arenas, History and Legends] ] When "Virago" arrived, the port was in the hands of a group of mutinous prisoners "headed by one Cambiaso, second lieutenant of the troops stationed there; who... had committed some offence and been imprisoned a short time before." [http://patlibros.org/iam/trx.php?trx=02 Chapter II, Brown, "Insurrection at Magellan".] ] Cambiaso had captured two merchant vessels: the barque "Florida" of New Orleans and the brig "Eliza Cornish" of Liverpool. The officers of the "Virago" came on shore, visited the barracks, and the "Florida", and then left the harbour without having their suspicions excited. When "Virago" arrived Cambiaso had considered trying to capture her, but was deterred because of "the order and discipline on board, the well manned guns, the well drilled marines", and "of the capability of even the smallest midshipman to take command of the crew in case of the absence of the superior officers". Early in January 1852, intelligence of the mutiny was transmitted to the Chilean government at Valparaíso. "The Chilean authorities despatched two Chilean men-of-war ["Indefatigable" and "Meteoro"] , and some Chilean troops under Don Santiago Jorge Bynon. The troops were put on board the Chilean men-of-war; the latter on board the "Virago", on the same service. The English steamer proceeded immediately to the Straits, and it was to be hoped that her officers would learn a lesson from experience, and prove themselves more sharp sighted than they had done a month before, in their former visit to the colony." [http://patlibros.org/iam/trx.php?trx=09 Chapter IX, Brown, "Insurrection at Magellan".] ] The mutineers and their prisoners sailed from Punta Arenas on the "Florida" and the "Eliza Cornish". "Virago" searched for, and recaptured the "Eliza Cornish" at sea and rescued some colonists who had been abandoned on Wood's Bay. Meanwhile, Cambiaso and his men on board the "Florida" had been overpowered by some of her original crew. [http://patlibros.org/iam/trx.php?trx=08 Chapter VIII, Brown, "Insurrection at Magellan".] ] When "Virago" and the Chilean ships encountered the "Florida", at a place called Ancud, the "Florida" was back in friendly hands. "Virago"'s crew lent assistance to "Florida", took the prisoners and treasure on board. After the incident, there was some dispute about treasure recaptured by the "Virago"; an American called Charles H. Brown from the "Florida" tried to claim it was his, and wrote a book to back up his claims. On 5 April 1853, Commander Edward Marshall took over command of "Virago". [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2260 History HMS "Virago"] ]

Crimean War service

On 9 July 1854, Stewart was promoted to captain. He was then appointed captain of the 4-gun 2nd-class paddle-frigate "Firebrand", replacing Captain Hyde Parker. During this time "Firebrand"' was serving in the Black Sea during the Crimean War. On 29 August, Stewart was superseded by Captain William Moorsom. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=1445 History HMS "Firebrand".] ]

On 2 February 1855, he was appointed captain of the 6-gun 2nd-class paddle-frigate "Dragon"; his predecessor, Captain James Willcox, had only commanded her for 11 days. Under Stewart, "Dragon" served in the Baltic Fleet in the second year of the Crimean War. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=1358 History HMS "Dragon".] ]

After the Crimean War

From 4 May 1857 to 3 May 1860, Stewart was captain of the "Impregnable", the harbour flagship of Vice-Admiral Barrington Reynolds, Devonport. "Impregnable" was a 47-year old 98-gun sail three-decker, which had been modernised in 1825-26, but had been a harbour flagship since 1839. [ Page 26, Winfield, Rif, "British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793-1817, Design, Construction, Careers and Fates", pub Chatham, 2005, ISBN 10: 1861762461]

On 3 May 1860, he became captain of the modern 131-gun steam three-decker "Marlborough", flagship of Vice-Admiral William Fanshawe Martin, C-In-C of the Mediterranean. [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=2 History HMS "Marlborough".] ] Vice-Admiral Robert Smart superseded Vice-Admiral Martin on 20 April 1863. [ [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowBiog.php?id=435 Online biography Robert Smart.] Note that this incorrectly suggests that "Victoria" was Smart's flagship from June 1863. This is impossible, since Victoria was first commissioned on 2 November 1864 - see [http://www.pdavis.nl/ShowShip.php?id=9 History HMS "Victoria"] ] Stewart was superseded by Captain Charles Fellowes in June 1863.

Stewart was then Superintendent of Chatham dockyard from 19 November 1863 to 30 November 1868; for part of this time, from 3 January 1866, he flew his flag in "Wellesley", guard ship of ordinary, Chatham. On 1 April 1870 Stewart was promoted to rear admiral. From 13 July 1870 to 21 November 1871 Stewart was Superintendent of Devonport dockyard. The from 20 November 1871 to 28 April 1872 he was 28 April 1872 he was Superintendent of Portsmouth dockyard.

Controller

Rear Admiral Stewart was appointed Controller of the Navy on 29 April 1872, and held this post until 1 December 1881. During this time he was promoted to vice admiral (12 November 1876) and then admiral (23 November 1881). He was awarded the K.C.B. (Knight Commander of the Bath) on 2 June 1877.

End of His Career

Admiral Stewart's last post was Commander-in-chief Devonport, which he held from 1 December 1881 to 1 December 1884.

He retired on 30 March 1885. He was awarded the G.C.B. (Knight Grand Cross of the Bath) on 21 June 1887, and died in London on 13 November 1901.

Footnotes