James Denham Douglas Stewart

Captain James Denham Douglas Stewart (15 July, 1875 – 18 August, 1963) was an officer of the Royal Navy during the First World War.

Life & Career

Born in St. Ann's in Jamaica, Stewart gained ten months' time on passing out of Britannia in July, 1891.

Though he failed to pass his college exam in September 1895, he did pass in November.

Stewart was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1898.

On 24 November, 1901 Stewart grounded Amphion on Chatham Island in the Galapagos Group. He was told to exercise greater care in future.

On 30 September, 1904 Stewart passed for navigator in first-class ships, having obtained a second-class certificate. He began plying this new skill, navigating Cumberland, Powerful, Cumberland (again), London and Canopus between late 1904 and mid-1909.

Stewart was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1909.

Though he had been navigating officer in a number of ships thus far in his career, most recently in London and Canopus in 1907-09, Stewart relinquished his (N) duties in August, 1912.

As a Commander, Stewart was appointed in command of the Magnificent on 29 July, 1913.

Stewart was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Royal Arthur in December 1915.

Stewart was promoted to Captain on 30 June, 1918.

Post-War

In February 1921, he was appointed in command of the light cruiser Cambrian. A note was inserted in his naval record that on 9 January 1922 at La Union, Salvador, he "failed to observe Regulations re Salutes with result that Nicaraguans returned Salute to the U.S. instead of British Flag." Tellingly, Admiral Pakenham reported in July 1922 that Stewart was “not easy to know, but seems to hold opinions strongly and to follow them … to an extent perhaps not justified by his information.”

He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 29 August, 1922.

See Also

• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Charles D. Granville as Captain of H.M.S. Rainbow	Captain of H.M.C.S. Rainbow 4 Aug, 1910Template:RCNL1910-14 – 1 Aug, 1911	Succeeded by Walter Hose
Preceded by Frederick A. Powlett	Captain of H.M.S. Isis 14 Feb, 1912 – 1 Jul, 1913	Succeeded by Cecil A. Severn
Preceded by Hugh L. P. Heard	Captain of H.M.S. Magnificent 1 Jul, 1913 – Jan, 1915	Succeeded by Frederic A. Whitehead
Preceded by Frederic A. Whitehead	Captain of H.M.S. Royal Arthur 10 Dec, 1915 – 19 Mar, 1918	Succeeded by Clyfford H. Warren
Preceded by Rowland H. Bather	Captain of H.M.S. Diligence 28 Feb, 1919 – 8 Aug, 1920	Succeeded by Samuel M. G. Gravener
Preceded by Gerard A. Wells	Captain of H.M.S. Cambrian c. Feb, 1921 – Aug, 1922	Succeeded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith