John Smith Stewart was born 16 May 1878 in the Brampton, Ontario, to John Stewart and Mary Armstrong. Stewart moved to Edmonton at the age of 19 in 1896.[1] Stewart later studied dentistry at University of Toronto, completing his studies in 1903. He moved to Lethbridge and married Jean McClure on 25 September 1907; she died in 1914.[2][3] Stewart was appointed to the board of the newly established University of Alberta in 1909.[3]
Stewart's military career began as a private in Strathcona's Horse during the Second Boer War.[2] During this time he served under Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Steele, and earned the Queen's South Africa Medal with four clasps.[3] Stewart received his commission, completing his studies at the Royal Military College of Canada in February 1908 to form the 25th Artillery Battery.[3] On the outbreak of the First World War, Stewart was asked to command the 20th Artillery Battery from Lethbridge, and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel before going overseas on 9 August 1915.[3] He was eventually promoted to brigadier-general on 7 July 1917, and later transferred to the 3rd Canadian Division from December 1917 to demobilization.[2] Stewart was wounded twice and mentioned in dispatches twice. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).[2] Stewart returned to Alberta on 19 January 1919 in time for sitting in the legislature.[3]
Political career
Stewart was first elected to the 2nd Alberta Legislature as a member of the Alberta Conservative Party in a by-election held in the Lethbridge City electoral district on 31 October 1911. Stewart defeated his Liberal opponent S. J. Shepherd by 183 votes.[4] The by-election came as a result of the resignation of William Ashbury Buchanan, who was elected in the 1911 Canadian federal election. Stewart was subsequently re-elected in 1913 and acclaimed in 1917[5] by an act of the legislature which provided members serving overseas in the First World War would be acclaimed. The Lethbridge City electoral district was dissolved prior to the 1921 Alberta general election, which saw Stewart defeat his Labour opponent John Marsh by 978 votes. While Stewart ran as an independent, he was the only former Conservative member to be returned to the legislature in 1921.[6]
Stewart continued his dental practice for over 58 years until retiring in 1960 at the age of 83.[3] The General Stewart School, an elementary school in Lethbridge was named for him in 1957, and the same year he was awarded an honorary law degree from the University of Alberta.[3] Stewart returned to Belgium for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Mons in 1968, receiving the Citoyen d’Honneur.[3]
Stewart died on 14 August 1970 at the age of 92.[3]
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