James David Stewart

James David Stewart
KC
15th Premier of Prince Edward Island
In office
September 5, 1923  August 21, 1927
Monarch George V
Lieutenant Governor Murdoch McKinnon
Frank Richard Heartz
Preceded by John Howatt Bell
Succeeded by Albert C. Saunders
In office
August 29, 1931  October 10, 1933
Monarch George V
Lieutenant Governor Charles Dalton
Preceded by Walter Lea
Succeeded by William J. P. MacMillan
Leader of the Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island
In office
May 1, 1921  October 10, 1933
Preceded by Aubin-Edmond Arsenault
Succeeded by William J. P. MacMillan
MLA (Councillor) for 5th Kings
In office
July 25, 1917  October 10, 1933
Preceded by John A. Mathieson
Succeeded by George Saville
Personal details
Born (1874-01-15)January 15, 1874
Lower Montague, Prince Edward Island
Died October 10, 1933(1933-10-10) (aged 59)
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Nationality Canadian
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Barbara Alice MacDonald Westaway
Children Roma, Nell, Marjorie, Lillian, James A., James David, and Maude
Residence Lower Montague, Prince Edward Island
Alma mater Prince of Wales College
Dalhousie University
Occupation lawyer
Profession Politician
Cabinet Attorney General (1923–1927) (1931–1933)
Religion Presbyterian

James David Stewart (January 15, 1874 October 10, 1933) was a Prince Edward Island educator, lawyer and politician, the province's 15th Premier.

Born in Lower Montague and educated at Prince of Wales College and Dalhousie University, he taught school in Georgetown for several years before entering the legal profession.

In 1917, the Conservative Party recruited Stewart, then a young lawyer, to be the party's candidate in a by-election in King's County. Stewart won the vote and took his seat in the provincial legislative assembly.

In 1921 he was elected leader of the Conservative Party and led the party to victory in the 1923 election but his government was defeated in the 1927 election due to Stewart's opposition to total prohibition of alcohol.

He remained party leader and defeated the Liberal government in the 1931 election thanks, in party, to the difficulty all incumbent governments had in dealing with the Great Depression.

Stewart took on several cabinet positions himself and also intensively lobbied the federal government for relief so the province could deal with the economic hardships Prince Edward Islanders were suffering during the Depression. He obtained a larger federal subsidy for the island but the workload had a toll on Stewart and he died in office in 1933 at the age of 59.

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