Charles Stewart (Royal Navy officer)
Charles Stewart | |
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![]() Stewart in 1740 | |
Born | 1681 |
Died | 5 February 1741 |
Allegiance | Kingdom of England Kingdom of Great Britain |
Service/ | Royal Navy |
Years of service | c. 1697–1741 |
Rank | Vice-Admiral of the White |
Commands held | HMS Falcon HMS Panther |
Battles/wars | |
Relations | William Stewart, 1st Viscount Mountjoy (father) |
Stewart was born into the nobility, raised the younger son of a viscount. He entered the navy at an early age, but suffered a severe wound at the beginning of his career, losing his right hand. He recovered, and prospered in the service, rising to command several ships in the frequent wars of the early eighteenth century. He also had an interest in politics, representing County Tyrone from 1715. By 1720 he had risen high enough in the navy to be entrusted with a squadron to take action against Mediterranean piracy, particularly the dangerous Salé Rovers. He had the dual commission of acting as minister plenipotentiary to Morocco, and managed to successfully negotiate a treaty and the release of 296 British prisoners.
Rewarded with an increased pension and further commands, Stewart was raised to
Family and early career
Charles Stewart was born in 1681, the fifth son of Sir William Stewart later 1st Viscount Mountjoy.[1][2] His mother was Mary, the eldest daughter of
Parliament and commands
Stewart combined a naval career with a political one, at first entering the Parliament of Ireland in October 1715, representing County Tyrone.[3] After some years in the navy, he was assigned to command a squadron in the Mediterranean in 1720 against the Salé Rovers. Combined with this task was the appointment as minister plenipotentiary to Morocco, with orders to secure a peace treaty with the emperor, Ismail Ibn Sharif.[2][3]
Embassy to Morocco
Stewart sailed from England on 24 September, making his way to
Politics and flag rank
Stewart apparently became a supporter of John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, and was elected to represent Malmesbury on his interest, on 25 January 1723.[2] He represented Malmesbury until 1727, and though Sir Charles Wager expected that Argyll would arrange for Stewart to be elected to represent Portsmouth in 1732, this did not happen.[2] Stewart's next opportunity to distinguish himself at sea came in late 1729, towards the end of the Anglo-Spanish War. News arrived in England that Edward St. Lo, commander in chief at the Jamaica Station during the Blockade of Porto Bello, had died while in command.[4] Stewart was promoted to rear-admiral of the blue on 9 December 1729 and set out to take up the command in Lo's stead,[5] flying his flag aboard HMS Lion.[4]
He was commander in chief until 1732, being promoted to rear-admiral of the white on 29 June 1732. He was promoted again, to vice-admiral of the blue, on 26 February 1734, and given command of a division of a fleet being prepared for sea to counter Spanish threats.[4] Stewart duly hoisted his flag aboard the 80-gun HMS Devonshire, but the crisis passed without breaking into war. He then became second in command of the Channel Fleet, under Sir John Norris, flying his flag aboard the 70-gun HMS Edinburgh, but again without seeing any action.[2][4]
Later life
Stewart continued to serve in the navy and receive promotions. He was raised to the rank of vice-admiral of the white on 2 March 1736.[4] He also resumed his parliamentary career, being returned to represent Portsmouth at a by-election on 10 February 1737. He held this seat until his death on 5 February 1741, voting against the Convention of Pardo in 1739, but for the place bill of 1740.[2][4] He died unmarried.[2][4]
Notes
a.
Citations
- ^ a b Charnock. Biographia Navalis. p. 304.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Sedgwick (ed.). "Stewart, Hon. Charles (1681–1741)". The History of Parliament.
- ^ a b c d e f g Charnock. Biographia Navalis. p. 305.
- ^ a b c d e f g Charnock. Biographia Navalis. p. 306.
- ^ Cundall, p. xx
- ^ a b c Laughton. "Hardy, Thomas (1666–1732)". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 24. pp. 356–7.
References
- Cundall, Frank (1915). Historic Jamaica. West India Committee.
- Charnock, John (1795). Biographia Navalis; Or, Impartial Memoirs of the Lives and Characters of Officers of the Navy of Great Britain: From the Year 1660 to the Present Time; Drawn from the Most Authentic Sources, and Disposed in a Chronological Arrangement. Vol. 3. R. Faulder.
- Laughton, J. K. (1890). "Hardy, Thomas (1666–1732)". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 24.
- R. Sedgewick, ed. (1970). "Stewart, Hon. Charles (1681–1741)". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715–1754. Vol. 3. Boydell and Brewer.