Joseph Ewart
Encyclopedia
Joseph Ewart was a Scottish diplomatist.
Ewart was the eldest son of the minister of Troquear in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright
, was born on 30 April l759. He was educated at Dumfries
and at Edinburgh University, and then acted as travelling tutor to Macdonald of Clanronald. While abroad, Ewart made the acquaintance of Sir John Stepney, British minister at Dresden, and after that diplomatist had been transferred to Berlin, Ewart became in rapid succession his private secretary and then secretary of legation. In this capacity he gave so much satisfaction that after acting as chargé d'affaires from 1787 to 1788, he was, in spite of his youth, appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the King of Prussia
on 5 August 1788.
The situation was very difficult, for it was Pitt's design, assisted by Lord Malmesbury, to induce Frederick William of Prussia to intervene in the affairs of Holland; to put down the revolutionary party there; and to re-establish the Prince of Orange aa stadt-holder. This design was carried out, and Ewart obtained much credit for his share in the transactions. Of his subsequent conduct at the court of Berlin there are contradictory reports, for the French revolution commenced in 1789, and partisans and opponents of the English foreign policy of that period represent the minister's behaviour in different lights. Ewart has been accused of adopting too peremptory an attitude towards the King of Prussia and his ministers, of thus alienating them from England. He certainly succeeded, however, in concluding the marriage treaty between the Duke of York and the eldest daughter of the King of Prussia, and received warm acknowledgments from the king. His health breaking down, he resigned on a pension of 1,000l. a year and a promise of tbu order of the Bath. He left Berlin on 3 November 1791. He died at his brother's house in Bladud's Buildings, Bath, on 27 Jan. 1792, and was buried in Bath Abbey, where a tablet is eructed to his memory. A statement that he died out of his mind, and anothor (by Wraxell) that his death was due to foul play of the Empress Catherine, are entirely disproved by facts preserved in the family papers. He married in 1785 a daughter of Count Wontensleben, by whom he left one son (afterwards Lieutenant-general Ewart, C.B.) and two daughters.
Ewart was the eldest son of the minister of Troquear in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.The town lies south of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie, in the part of Dumfries and Galloway known as the Stewartry, at the mouth of the River Dee, some six miles from the sea...
, was born on 30 April l759. He was educated at Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
and at Edinburgh University, and then acted as travelling tutor to Macdonald of Clanronald. While abroad, Ewart made the acquaintance of Sir John Stepney, British minister at Dresden, and after that diplomatist had been transferred to Berlin, Ewart became in rapid succession his private secretary and then secretary of legation. In this capacity he gave so much satisfaction that after acting as chargé d'affaires from 1787 to 1788, he was, in spite of his youth, appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the King of Prussia
King of Prussia
King of Prussia may refer to:* A ruler of the former German state of Prussia**List of rulers of Prussia* Place names** King of Prussia, Pennsylvania* Shopping Centers** King of Prussia Mall...
on 5 August 1788.
The situation was very difficult, for it was Pitt's design, assisted by Lord Malmesbury, to induce Frederick William of Prussia to intervene in the affairs of Holland; to put down the revolutionary party there; and to re-establish the Prince of Orange aa stadt-holder. This design was carried out, and Ewart obtained much credit for his share in the transactions. Of his subsequent conduct at the court of Berlin there are contradictory reports, for the French revolution commenced in 1789, and partisans and opponents of the English foreign policy of that period represent the minister's behaviour in different lights. Ewart has been accused of adopting too peremptory an attitude towards the King of Prussia and his ministers, of thus alienating them from England. He certainly succeeded, however, in concluding the marriage treaty between the Duke of York and the eldest daughter of the King of Prussia, and received warm acknowledgments from the king. His health breaking down, he resigned on a pension of 1,000l. a year and a promise of tbu order of the Bath. He left Berlin on 3 November 1791. He died at his brother's house in Bladud's Buildings, Bath, on 27 Jan. 1792, and was buried in Bath Abbey, where a tablet is eructed to his memory. A statement that he died out of his mind, and anothor (by Wraxell) that his death was due to foul play of the Empress Catherine, are entirely disproved by facts preserved in the family papers. He married in 1785 a daughter of Count Wontensleben, by whom he left one son (afterwards Lieutenant-general Ewart, C.B.) and two daughters.