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STEWART, KC., JAMES DAVID, lawyer; b. 15 January 1874 in Lower Montague, son of David Stewart and Lydia Ayers; m. Barbara Alice MacDonald Westaway and they had seven children, Roma, Nell, Marjorie, Lillian, James A., James David*, and Maude; Presbyterian; d. 10 October 1933. Stewart, a Conservative, was first elected to the Legislature in a by-election held July 1917 for 5th Kings. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1919, 1923, 1927, and 1931. In 1921 he was elected Leader of the Conservative party and became Premier and Attorney-General after defeating the government of Premier John H. Bell* in 1923. Stewart served in this capacity until 1927, when his party was defeated. When the Conservatives were reelected in 1931, he once again served in the roles of Premier and Attorney-General. With the 1923 election, Stewart became the fifteenth premier of the province, and when he won re-election in 1931 he was the only party leader since the Island joined Confederation to return as premier after being defeated. Throughout his two terms as premier, Stewart fought for a higher subsidy for the province and attempted to advance the cause of Maritime rights in Ottawa. In the general election of 1927, Stewart and the Conservative Party were defeated because they promised to repeal Prohibition, an idea which a majority of Islanders rejected. Stewart received his early education in Lower Montague and later attended Prince of Wales College and Dalhousie University. Stewart taught school for several years before beginning his law career. He read law with Mathieson and MacDonald. John Mathieson* was premier from 1911 to 1917, and Aeneas MacDonald also served in the Legislature. Stewart was called to the Bar in 1906. At some point James Augustine Macdonald read law with Stewart. In 1917 Stewart was appointed King s Counsel. He was a partner in Mathieson, MacDonald and Stewart in Georgetown and Charlottetown from 1906 until 1916. From 1917 to 1928, he practised law without a partner. From 1928 to his death, he was a partner in the firm Stewart and Lowther. Stewart served as vice-president of the Bar Association in 1927. He served as chair of the Board of Falconwood Hospital. Stewart was an active member of the A.F. and A.M. and served as Provincial Grand Master 915. He was also a member of the Charlottetown Golf Club. James Stewart died 10 October 1933 while in office. He was one of only three Island premiers, including Arthur Peters* and Walter Lea % who died while serving as premier. Barbara Stewart, the daughter of John and Catherine Westaway of Georgetown, was born 2 lune 1879 and died 28 September 1968 in Charlottetown. His son David Stewart represented5th Queens in the Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1970., CPG 1933; Prominent Men p. 41; PARO: MNI-Census 1881; People’s Cemetery Records.