Born on 23 May 1881 the son of Robert Stewart, minister of Wingrove Presbyterian Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, subsequently in 1936 renamed the Robert Stewart Memorial Church, he was educated in Newcastle and for his clinical studies attended the Royal Victoria Infirmary where he became a surgical registrar. In 1914 as the holder of a commission as Captain RAMC(TA) he was posted to the Northumberland War Hospital, Gosforth, working under Rutherford Morison. This hospital later became St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth. After the war he worked at Wingrove Hospital and Horton Lane, South Shields, both up-graded from poor law infirmaries, and did outstanding work in promoting their efficiency and modernisation. In 1931 he became surgeon superintendent of Newcastle General Hospital, retiring in 1951. He was also consultant to Newburn Cottage Hospital, to Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital, and to Shotley Bridge Hospital. At Newcastle General he started clinical demonstrations for general practitioners on Sunday mornings. He acted as surgeon to Newcastle United Football Club and was interested in painting, the arts, travel, and music. A man of unassuming quiet charm, he was an accomplished pianist and had on one occasion played for Sibelius. He married first Jane, who died after a long illness in 1954, by whom he had a daughter, and secondly Ruby Jeavons, who had for many years been his secretary. He died in Newcastle General Hospital on 23 December 1958 aged 77.