William Downie Stewart (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Downie Stewart was a 19th century New Zealand
politician and a lawyer.
near Stirling
in Scotland
. His parents were Alexander Stewart and Mary (née Downie). He commenced to study law in Scotland, but came to Dunedin
aged 19 in 1861, arriving on the Robert Henderson on 8 October. In Dunedin, he continued his studies.
Stewart had eleven siblings, and over time nine of them also migrated to Dunedin. He married Rachel Stewart (née Hepburn), the youngest daughter of the early Dunedin
settler George Hepburn
.
was later appointed Chief Justice of New Zealand
. Stewart was admitted to the bar on 12 June 1867 and began practising on his own. Robert Stout
worked for him for some time.
triggered a by-election in the City of Dunedin electorate
.
Stewart won the 14 July 1879 by-election with a majority of 163 votes over his great friend Charles Stephen Reeves
and entered Parliament. He was offered the position of Attorney-General
, but declined.
Stewart was confirmed in the same electorate in the 1879 general election
on 2 September. The three-member electorate was contested by six candidates. Thomas Dick
, Richard Oliver
and Stewart received 1140, 1044 and 989 votes, respectively. Stewart had a margin of 245 votes to the fourth-placed candidate.
At the 1881 general election
, he contested the newly formed Dunedin West
electorate, but lost against Dick, who had a majority of eight votes (459 and 451 votes for Dick and Stewart, respectively). At the 1884 general election
, he again contested the Dunedin West electorate against Dick, and this time Stewart was successful, receiving 508 versus 481 votes for Dick. The pair once contested this electorate in the 1887 general election
. Stewart and Dick received 706 and 697 votes, respectively – a majority of nine for Stewart.
Stewart retired from Parliament in 1890 at the end of the electoral term, and was appointed to the Legislative Council
. He was the last life-appointment made to the Legislative Council by Lord Onslow.
His father in law, George Hepburn, was also a Member of Parliament. He represented the Roslyn electorate
from 1866–69.
His son, William Downie Stewart, Jr., represented Dunedin West
for nearly 20 years, was Minister of Finance
and at one time acting Prime Minister
.
and his sister Mary acted as his Lady Mayoress.
Stewart Sr remarried in 1881, to Mary Thomson, the youngest daughter of John Thomson, formerly Provost of Irvine
, North Ayrshire
, Scotland. Stewart died on the 25 November 1898.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician and a lawyer.
Early life
Stewart was born in Blair DrummondBlair Drummond
Blair Drummond is a small rural community near Stirling in Scotland, predominantly located along the A84 road.-Description:...
near Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
in Scotland
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...
. His parents were Alexander Stewart and Mary (née Downie). He commenced to study law in Scotland, but came to Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
aged 19 in 1861, arriving on the Robert Henderson on 8 October. In Dunedin, he continued his studies.
Stewart had eleven siblings, and over time nine of them also migrated to Dunedin. He married Rachel Stewart (née Hepburn), the youngest daughter of the early Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
settler George Hepburn
George Hepburn (New Zealand)
George Hepburn was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Otago, New Zealand.He represented the Roslyn electorate from 1866 to 1869, when he resigned.-References:...
.
Legal career
Stewart joined the offices of Richmond and Gillies. In 1863, when the Otago and Southland district was constituted under the Supreme Court Act, Richmond became a judge and Stewart joined the office of Prendergast, Kenyon and Maddock. James PrendergastJames Prendergast (judge)
Sir James Prendergast GCMG was the third Chief Justice of New Zealand. Prendergast was the first Chief Justice to be appointed on the advice of a responsible New Zealand government, but is chiefly noted for his far-reaching decision in Wi Parata v The Bishop of Wellington in which he described the...
was later appointed Chief Justice of New Zealand
Chief Justice of New Zealand
The Chief Justice of New Zealand is the head of the New Zealand judiciary, and presides over the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Before the establishment of the latter court in 2004 the Chief Justice was the presiding judge in the High Court of New Zealand and was also ex officio a member of the...
. Stewart was admitted to the bar on 12 June 1867 and began practising on his own. Robert Stout
Robert Stout
Sir Robert Stout, KCMG was the 13th Premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century, and later Chief Justice of New Zealand. He was the only person to hold both these offices...
worked for him for some time.
Political career
The resignation of Robert StoutRobert Stout
Sir Robert Stout, KCMG was the 13th Premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century, and later Chief Justice of New Zealand. He was the only person to hold both these offices...
triggered a by-election in the City of Dunedin electorate
Dunedin (New Zealand electorate)
Dunedin or the City of Dunedin or the Town of Dunedin was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand. It was one of the original electorates created in 1853 and existed, with two breaks, until 1905. Most of the time, it was a multi-member electorate.-History:From 1853...
.
Stewart won the 14 July 1879 by-election with a majority of 163 votes over his great friend Charles Stephen Reeves
Charles Stephen Reeves
Charles Stephen Reeves was a prominent New Zealand businessman and former Mayor of Dunedin.Born Wexford, Ireland in 1836, Reeves was educated at the Barrow and Tarvin Schools in Cheshire. Having spent some time in the Liverpool office his father's shipping business, Reeves emigrated to Victoria,...
and entered Parliament. He was offered the position of Attorney-General
Attorney-General (New Zealand)
The Attorney-General is a political office in New Zealand. It is simultaneously a ministerial position and an administrative office, and has responsibility for supervising New Zealand law and advising the government on legal matters...
, but declined.
Stewart was confirmed in the same electorate in the 1879 general election
New Zealand general election, 1879
The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between 28 August and 15 September to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 1 and 8 September. A total number of 82,271 voters turned out to vote.The election came about when George...
on 2 September. The three-member electorate was contested by six candidates. Thomas Dick
Thomas Dick (New Zealand)
Thomas Dick was a 19th century New Zealand politician. He was Superintendent of Otago Province in 1865, then Minister of Justice from 1881 to 1882, and Minister of Education from 1881 to 1884.-Early life:...
, Richard Oliver
Richard Oliver (New Zealand)
Richard Oliver was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.He represented the City of Dunedin electorate from 1878 to 1881, when he retired. On 10 November 1881, he was appointed to the Legislative Council...
and Stewart received 1140, 1044 and 989 votes, respectively. Stewart had a margin of 245 votes to the fourth-placed candidate.
At the 1881 general election
New Zealand general election, 1881
The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December...
, he contested the newly formed Dunedin West
Dunedin West
Dunedin West was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, in the city of Dunedin.-Population centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of suburbs in the west of Dunedin.* -History:...
electorate, but lost against Dick, who had a majority of eight votes (459 and 451 votes for Dick and Stewart, respectively). At the 1884 general election
New Zealand general election, 1884
The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:...
, he again contested the Dunedin West electorate against Dick, and this time Stewart was successful, receiving 508 versus 481 votes for Dick. The pair once contested this electorate in the 1887 general election
New Zealand general election, 1887
The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....
. Stewart and Dick received 706 and 697 votes, respectively – a majority of nine for Stewart.
Stewart retired from Parliament in 1890 at the end of the electoral term, and was appointed to the Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
. He was the last life-appointment made to the Legislative Council by Lord Onslow.
His father in law, George Hepburn, was also a Member of Parliament. He represented the Roslyn electorate
Roslyn (New Zealand electorate)
Roslyn was a parliamentary electorate in the city of Dunedin in the Otago Region, New Zealand from 1866 to 1890.-History:George Hepburn, the electorate's first representative who was elected in 1866, resigned in 1869. Henry Driver replaced him. Arthur John Burns was elected in the 1875 general...
from 1866–69.
His son, William Downie Stewart, Jr., represented Dunedin West
Dunedin West
Dunedin West was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, in the city of Dunedin.-Population centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of suburbs in the west of Dunedin.* -History:...
for nearly 20 years, was Minister of Finance
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
and at one time acting Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
.
Family
The Stewarts had five children. Their first child, Alexander Westwood, died in 1870 aged five months. Their first daughter, Rachelina Hepburn, was born in 1873. George Hepburn was born in 1875 and Mary Downie in 1876. Their last son, named William Downie after his father, was born on 29 July 1878. His wife died within months of giving birth. Stewart Jr later became Mayor of DunedinMayor of Dunedin
The Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the municipal government of Dunedin, New Zealand, and presides over the Dunedin City Council. The Mayor is directly elected, using the Single Transferable Vote system in 2007....
and his sister Mary acted as his Lady Mayoress.
Stewart Sr remarried in 1881, to Mary Thomson, the youngest daughter of John Thomson, formerly Provost of Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
, North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
, Scotland. Stewart died on the 25 November 1898.