Alexander Stewart (1699–1781)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Stewart was an Irish landowner and ancestor of the family of the Marquess of Londonderry
.
The son of William Stewart, of Ballylawn in County Donegal
.
In 1731 at the death of his brother Thomas, he inherited the property at Ballylawn. He was married on 30 June 1737 to Mary Cowan, daughter of John Cowan
alderman of Derry and sister of the former Governor of Bombay Robert Cowan
, who had recently died. Their children included two sons, Robert
, born 27 September 1739, and Alexander
, born 26 March 1746. Robert later became first Marquess of Londonderry
. Stewart's family papers are in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
.
In 1743 Stewart successfully proved his right to the Cowan estate, and in 1744 he acquired estates in Comber
and Newtownards
in County Down
. In ca 1750 he built a house in Newtownards
where he moved. The family home there was Mount Pleasant, later renamed Mount Stewart
. In 1759 the Member of Parliament for the city of Londonderry
, William Scott
, was raised to the bench
. Initially William Hamilton was elected to succeed him, but the election was declared void. Alexander Stewart was returned in his place in April 1760, but he was also declared not duly elected. Eventually Hamilton represented the constituency from May 1760 until his death later that year. Stewart was not elected again to Parliament, but his sons and grandsons were, the Londonderrys becoming an important political dynasty.
Marquess of Londonderry
Marquess of Londonderry is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1816 for Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Londonderry. He had earlier represented County Down in the Irish House of Commons. Stewart had already been created Baron Londonderry in 1789, Viscount Castlereagh in 1795 and Earl...
.
The son of William Stewart, of Ballylawn in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
In 1731 at the death of his brother Thomas, he inherited the property at Ballylawn. He was married on 30 June 1737 to Mary Cowan, daughter of John Cowan
John Cowan
John Cowan is an American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival...
alderman of Derry and sister of the former Governor of Bombay Robert Cowan
Robert Cowan
Robert Cowan was an Irish colonial administrator and the East India Company's Governor of Bombay from 1729 to 1734. He was a collateral ancestor of the Marquesses of Londonderry through the marriage of his sister, Mary Cowan, to Alexander Stewart, father of Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of...
, who had recently died. Their children included two sons, Robert
Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry
Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry PC , was an Irish politician and landowner, the father of politician Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh.-Early life in Dublin:...
, born 27 September 1739, and Alexander
Alexander Stewart (1746–1831)
Alexander Stewart was an Irish landowner and Member of Parliament.He was the son of Alexander Stewart of Mount Stewart by his wife Mary, sister and heiress of Robert Cowan of Bombay...
, born 26 March 1746. Robert later became first Marquess of Londonderry
Marquess of Londonderry
Marquess of Londonderry is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1816 for Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Londonderry. He had earlier represented County Down in the Irish House of Commons. Stewart had already been created Baron Londonderry in 1789, Viscount Castlereagh in 1795 and Earl...
. Stewart's family papers are in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland is situated in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a division within the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ....
.
In 1743 Stewart successfully proved his right to the Cowan estate, and in 1744 he acquired estates in Comber
Comber
Comber is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies 5 miles south of Newtownards, at the northern end of Strangford Lough. It had a population of 8,933 people in the 2001 Census. Comber is part of the Borough of Ards...
and Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
in County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. In ca 1750 he built a house in Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
where he moved. The family home there was Mount Pleasant, later renamed Mount Stewart
Mount Stewart
Mount Stewart is an 18th-century house and garden in County Down, Northern Ireland, owned by the National Trust. Situated on the east shore of Strangford Lough, a few miles outside the town of Newtownards and near Greyabbey, it was the home of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, Marquesses of...
. In 1759 the Member of Parliament for the city of Londonderry
Londonderry City (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Londonderry City was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...
, William Scott
William Scott (Irish lawyer)
William Scott was an Irish lawyer.Son of Rev. Gideon Scott and Jane McNeill, who shared the same mother as her half-brother, James Stuart, 1st Earl of Bute. He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for the city of Londonderry in 1739, and appointed Prime Serjeant at the Irish Bar on 6 October...
, was raised to the bench
Court of King's Bench (Ireland)
The Court of King's Bench was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England....
. Initially William Hamilton was elected to succeed him, but the election was declared void. Alexander Stewart was returned in his place in April 1760, but he was also declared not duly elected. Eventually Hamilton represented the constituency from May 1760 until his death later that year. Stewart was not elected again to Parliament, but his sons and grandsons were, the Londonderrys becoming an important political dynasty.