This sub-collection consists of private correspondence from the period between 1879 and 1884, including letters from William Henry Smith, First Lord of the Admiralty. Stewart’s period of service as flag captain on the MARLBOROUGH, flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, is represented by letters and a book of remarks on the discipline of the ship. There is also a book containing details of dimensions, costs, etc. of naval vessels built under contract and in the dockyards, 1860 to 1873.

The collection also contains papers relating to the service of Stewart’s son with the Naval Brigade attached to the expeditionary force for the relief of Tokar from the Mahdist Sudanese army in 1884. Lieutenant Houston Stewart was killed in action at Tamanieh on 13 March 1884.

Administrative / biographical background
William Houston Stewart was the eldest son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Houston Stewart (1791-1875). He entered the Navy in 1835 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 1842, commander in 1848 and captain in 1854. In 1860 he joined HMS MARLBOROUGH (1855) as flag-captain to Vice-Admiral Sir William Fanshawe Martin in the Mediterranean, where he remained for three years. The rest of his career consisted of administrative appointments. He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1870 and was admiral superintendent of Devonport Dockyard in 1870. At the end of 1871 he was appointed in the same capacity to Portsmouth. Between 1872 and 1881 he was Controller of the Navy, although without a seat on the Board of Admiralty. He was promoted to vice-admiral in 1876 and admiral in 1881, when he was appointed commander-in-chief at Devonport. He remained there for three years and retired in 1885. His service record can be found under the reference ADM 196/37/1072 at The National Archives.