Keith Stewart
Encyclopedia
Keith Stewart of Glasserton
(1739 – 3 March 1795) was a Scottish
Admiral
and MP in the British Parliament. He was the second surviving son of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
.
in about 1753. He attained the rank of Captain
in 1762, the promotion being one of the terms of his surrendering his seat in Parliament. He commanded HMS Berwick
in 1777. He served under Admiral Keppel
in the action off Ushant
on 27 July 1778.
In June 1781 Stewart was given a North Sea
command with the rank of Commodore
. He served under Vice Admiral Hyde Parker
in the Battle of Dogger Bank
in August 1778.
In September 1778 he was given command of the squadron blockading Dutch
ports. Although he resigned this appointment after a ship escaped, Stewart was a highly regarded Naval officer and his career continued. He served under Admiral Richard Howe
in his expedition to Gibraltar
.
Stewart became a rear admiral in 1790 and vice admiral in 1794.
for a short time in 1762, between winning a by-election
on 19 February 1762 and resigning before a new MP was elected on 15 April 1762. He was MP for Wigtownshire
1768-1784.
. She married second 1797 Lt-Colonel Richard Fitzgerald (kia Battle of Waterloo
).
Glasserton
‘’’Glasserton’’’ is a parish in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is thought that the name derives from the Saxon for “bare hill”. It is located near Whithorn and includes the village of Monrieth, the area called Kirkmaiden and two mansions, namely Glasserton Park and Physgill, together with...
(1739 – 3 March 1795) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
and MP in the British Parliament. He was the second surviving son of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway was the son of James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway by Catherine, daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton ....
.
Naval career
He joined the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in about 1753. He attained the rank of Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
in 1762, the promotion being one of the terms of his surrendering his seat in Parliament. He commanded HMS Berwick
HMS Berwick (1775)
HMS Berwick was a 74-gun Elizabeth-class third rate of the Royal Navy, launched at Portsmouth Dockyard on 18 April 1775, to a design by Sir Thomas Slade. She fought the French at the Battle of Ushant and the Dutch at the Battle of Dogger Bank...
in 1777. He served under Admiral Keppel
Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel
Admiral Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel PC was an officer of the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the War of American Independence...
in the action off Ushant
Battle of Ushant (1778)
The Battle of Ushant took place on 27 July 1778, during the American War of Independence, fought between French and British fleets 100 miles west of Ushant, a French island at the mouth of the English Channel off the north-westernmost point of France...
on 27 July 1778.
In June 1781 Stewart was given a North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
command with the rank of Commodore
Commodore (Royal Navy)
Commodore is a rank of the Royal Navy above Captain and below Rear Admiral. It has a NATO ranking code of OF-6. The rank is equivalent to Brigadier in the British Army and Royal Marines and to Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force.-Insignia:...
. He served under Vice Admiral Hyde Parker
Sir Hyde Parker, 5th Baronet
Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, 5th Baronet was a British naval commander.Parker was born at Tredington, Gloucestershire. His father, a clergyman, was a son of Sir Henry Parker. His paternal grandfather had married a daughter of Alexander Hyde, Bishop of Salisbury. He began his career at sea in the...
in the Battle of Dogger Bank
Battle of Dogger Bank (1781)
The naval Battle of the Dogger Bank took place on 5 August 1781 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, part of the American War of Independence, in the North Sea...
in August 1778.
In September 1778 he was given command of the squadron blockading Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
ports. Although he resigned this appointment after a ship escaped, Stewart was a highly regarded Naval officer and his career continued. He served under Admiral Richard Howe
Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe
Admiral of the Fleet Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe KG was a British naval officer, notable in particular for his service during the American War of Independence and French Revolutionary Wars. He was the brother of William Howe and George Howe.Howe joined the navy at the age of thirteen and served...
in his expedition to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
.
Stewart became a rear admiral in 1790 and vice admiral in 1794.
Involvement in politics
He represented Wigtown BurghsWigtown (UK Parliament constituency)
Wigtown Burghs, also known as Wigton Burghs,. was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by one Member of Parliament .The first election in...
for a short time in 1762, between winning a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on 19 February 1762 and resigning before a new MP was elected on 15 April 1762. He was MP for Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Wigtownshire, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was represented by one Member of Parliament....
1768-1784.
Family
He married 13 May 1782 Georgina Isabella d'Aguilar, daughter of Ephraim Lópes Pereira d'Aguilar, 2nd Baron d'Aguilar. Their children included Rt Hon James Alexander Stewart-MackenzieJames Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie
James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie , was a Scottish politician and British colonial administrator.Born James Alexander Stewart, the son of Vice Admiral Keith Stewart , he assumed the surname Stewart-Mackenzie after his marriage on 21 May 1817 to Mary Elizabeth Frederica Mackenzie , daughter...
. She married second 1797 Lt-Colonel Richard Fitzgerald (kia Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
).
