William Houston Stewart Totally Explained

Everything about William Houston Stewart totally explained

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), and Martha (d. 1870), youngest daughter of Sir William Miller, Bart (1785-1846). William Houston Stewart is sometimes referred to as William Houston Shaw-Stewart; his paternal grandfather was Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart, Bt (1766-1825).
On 20 February 1850, he married Catherine Elizabeth Coote (1829-1867), only daughter of Eyre Coote (1806-1834) of West Park, Hampshire.
His remarried on 11 January 1872, this time to Blanche Caroline (1845-1927), the third child of Admiral Hon. Keith Stewart (1814-1879), They had one daughter: Blanche Nita Mary Stewart (d. 1947).

Early career

Stewart entered the Navy on 29 April 1835. 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. 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.) 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. Stewart served in Grampus until 1847, when he studied steam engineering at Woolwich. On 4 December 1851, Virago put into the Chilean port of Punta Arenas in the Strait of Magellan. This city was "a penitentiary colony for relapsing criminals and relegated military". 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." Cambiaso had captured two merchant vessels: the barque Florida of New Orleans and the brig Eliza Cornish of Liverpool. 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. 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.

Crimean War service

On 9 July 1854, Stewart was promoted to captain.
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.

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.
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. Vice-Admiral Robert Smart superseded Vice-Admiral Martin on 20 April 1863. 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.

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