STEWART, WILLIAM (1767-1851) is believed to have served in the Royal Navy (1793-97), being for two years master's mate and two years master. He reached New South Wales from Calcutta in 1801. He was commanding the sloop George when she went ashore in Bass Strait in 1804 but, obtaining carpenters from New South Wales, he got her off and brought her back to Sydney. While in command of the Edwin he helped to capture Duce's gang in Tasmania. He owned the Fly in 1803 and in that year commanded the Pegasus when she took a gang to Stewart Island (which some authorities claim that he discovered and named). While first officer of the same ship in 1809, he took observations and made a chart of Port Pegasus, which was published in the Oriental Navigator in 1816. It was used until 1840 and was considered even then a fine piece of work. Returning to England about 1824, Stewart floated his scheme (a timber and flax company) at Stewart Island, for which T. and D. Asquith bought the Prince of Denmark and the Lord Rodney. He made three trips to Stewart Island, but the venture failed and he was in financial difficulties in Sydney. Meanwhile a party of sawyers which he had taken from Bay of Islands built the schooner Joseph Weller, the first vessel known to have been built at Stewart Island. Stewart lived there for many years and acted as pilot to H.M.S. Herald on her visit to proclaim sovereignty in 1840. He died at Poverty Bay late in 1851.

G.B.O.P., 1840/238; Buick, Waitangi; Thomson; Scholefield, Hobson; McNab, Murihiku; N.Z. Spectator, 21 Feb 1852

Reference: Volume 2, page 170

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