John Smith Stewart

John Smith Stewart was born May 16, 1878 in the Brampton, Ontario to John Stewart and Mary Armstrong. Stewart would move to Edmonton at the age of 19 in 1896.[1] Stewart would later study dentistry at University of Toronto, completing his studies in 1903, moving to Lethbridge and would marry Jean McClure on September 25, 1907, she would later die in 1914.[2][3] Stewart was appointed to the Board of the newly established University of Alberta in 1909.[3]

Stewarts's military career would begin as a Private in Strathcona's Horse during the Second Boer War.[2] During this time he would serve under Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Steele, and earned the Queen's South Africa Medal with four clasps.[3] Stewart would receive 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 would be asked to command the 20th Artillery Battery from Lethbridge, and was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel before going overseas on August 9, 1915.[3] He would eventually be promoted to Brigadier-General on July 7, 1917, and later transferred to the 3rd Canadian Division from December 1917 to demobilization.[2] Stewart would be twice wounded and twice mentioned in dispatches. He would be awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).[2] Stewart returned to Alberta on January 19, 1919 in time for sitting in the legislature.[3]

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 October 31, 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 would be elected in the 1911 Canadian federal election. Stewart would subsequently be re-elected in 1913 and acclaimed in 1917[5] by an Act of the Legislature which provided members serving oversees in the First World War would be acclaimed. The Lethbridge City electoral district would be 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 would be the only former Conservative member to be returned to the Legislature in 1921.[6]

Stewart would contest the 1925 Canadian federal election in the Lethbridge riding, representing the Conservative Party of Canada. He would be defeated by incumbent Progressive candidate Lincoln Henry Jelliff by 743 votes. Stewart would not contest the quickly called 1926 federal election, but would contest the 1930 election defeating Progressive candidate Thomas Owen King by 987 votes, earning a seat in House of Commons of Canada. Stewart would be unable to hold his seat in the 1935 election, being defeated by federal Social Credit candidate John Horne Blackmore by a wide margin of over 3,600 votes. Stewart would try again and fail to unseat Blackmore again in 1940.[7]

As a Member of Parliament Stewart took an interest in Waterton Lakes National Park, leading the Canadian negotiations for the establishment of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park with American Congressman from Montana Scott Leavitt.[8]

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 honourary law degree from the University of Alberta.[3] Stewart would return to Belgium for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Mons in 1968, receiving the Citoyen d’Honneur.[3]

Stewart died on August 14, 1970 at the age of 93.[3]

• John Smith Stewart – Parliament of Canada biography
• Peel Digital Library - From Brock to Currie : the military development and exploits of Canadians in general and of the men of Peel in particular, 1791 to 1930
• John Smith Stewart fonds, Library and Archives Canada