Robert Stewart (Prince Edward Island politician)
Robert Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island | |
| In office 1773–1779 | |
| Succeeded by | David Higgins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1731 |
| Died | 1787 |
| Citizenship | British |
| Profession | Merchant |
Robert Stewart (1731-1787) was a Canadian of Scottish origin who became first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, serving in this position from 1773 until 1779.
Early years
[edit]Robert Stewart was born in 1731. His grandfather was the Reverend Dugald Stewart of Rothesay. One of his cousins was Dugald Stewart, the Mathematician and Philosopher, a Professor at the University of Edinburgh. He married Annabella, daughter of the Reverend Charles Stewart. They had eight children.[1] Annabella was sister of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Stewart and of Peter Stewart, who became first Chief Justice of St. John island, as Prince Edward Island was originally called.[2] For some time Stewart was a fish merchant in Campbeltown, Argyll, but was not successful.[1]
Prince Edward Island
[edit]In 1770 Robert and Annabella Stewart emigrated to Prince Edward Island. They sailed from Campbeltown on the brigantine Annabella, captained by Dugald Stewart and carrying one hundred passengers from Argyll.[3] Dugald Stewart was Annabella's brother.[1] Robert Stewart organized the first settlement in Malpeque Bay, on the north shore of the center of the island.[3] Later his brother-in-law Lieutenant Colonel Robert Stewart took over the leadership of the settlement.[4] Robert Stewart of Cambelford was recognized as a leader of the island's community, and became the first speaker of the province's parliament when it was founded in 1773.[1] The first House of Assembly held only one session.[5]
References
[edit]Citations
- ^ a b c d Stewart 1984.
- ^ Haslam 1978, p. 25.
- ^ a b Campey 2007, p. 136.
- ^ Campey 2003, p. 183.
- ^ Warburton 1923, p. 175.
Sources
- Campey, Lucille H. (2003-05-01). The Silver Chief: Lord Selkirk and the Scottish Pioneers of Belfast, Baldoon and Red River. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-896219-88-2. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
- Campey, Lucille H. (2007-05-15). "A Very Fine Class of Immigrants": Prince Edward Island's Scottish Pioneers, 1770-1850. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-55002-771-6. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
- Haslam, Doris Muncey (1978). The Wrights of Bedeque, Prince Edward Island: a loyalist family. D. M. Haslam. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
- Stewart, A. I. B. (1984). "Sons of the Highland Manse". The Kintyre Antiquarian and Natural History Society Magazine (17). Retrieved 2012-01-26.
- Warburton, Alexander Bannerman (1923). A history of Prince Edward island from its discovery in 1534 until the departure of Lieutenant-Governor Ready in A.D. 1831. Barnes & Co., limited, Printers. Retrieved 2013-01-26.