Keith Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Wigtown Burghs | |
| In office February 1762 – March 1762 | |
| Preceded by | Archibald Montgomerie |
| Succeeded by | John Hamilton |
| Member of Parliament for Wigtownshire | |
| In office 1768–1784 | |
| Preceded by | James Murray |
| Succeeded by | Andrew McDouall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1739 |
| Died | 3 March 1795 (aged 56) Dumfries |
| Spouse | Georgina Isabella d'Aguilar |
| Parent(s) | Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway Lady Catherine Cochrane |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | c.1753–1795 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands | HMS Speedwell HMS Lynx HMS Lively HMS Montreal HMS Berwick North Sea Command HMS Cambridge HMS Formidable |
| Battles/wars | |
Vice-Admiral Keith Stewart (1739 – 3 March 1795) was a Scottish Royal Navy officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons on two occasions. Having begun his naval career in around 1753, Stewart was promoted to commander in 1761 and then advanced to post-captain in 1762 because of political negotiations undergone by his father Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway. Stewart commanded HMS Berwick at the Battle of Ushant in 1778 and in 1781 was appointed Commander-in-Chief, North Sea only to be superseded by Hyde Parker soon afterwards. As such he served at the Battle of Dogger Bank as a volunteer on Berwick.
Resuming his command in the North Sea after the battle, Stewart resigned his position towards the start of 1782 when he failed to stop a Dutch convoy escaping him in the Downs. Instead given command of HMS Cambridge, he served at the Relief of Gibraltar and the subsequent Battle of Cape Spartel. Apart from a very brief command of HMS Formidable Stewart saw no further service after 1783, but was promoted to rear-admiral in 1790 and vice-admiral in 1794. An active politician when not at sea, Stewart served as member of parliament for Wigtownshire from 1768 to 1784, generally as a supporter of the government. He resigned to take up post as receiver general of land tax in Scotland, a position he held for the remainder of his life.