James Cuming Stewart was born on 26 October 1905, the son of Sir Alexander Stewart who was born in Scotland and ultimately became an eminent Australian industrialist and company director. James was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and Ormond College, graduating MB BS in 1930. After holding junior surgical appointments at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne he came over to England to study for the FRCS, and in 1935 became RSO at St Mark's Hospital, and in 1936 was admitted to the Fellowship. On returning to Australia he was appointed associate surgeon to the Alfred Hospital and obtained the FRACS in 1939. During the second world war he served with the Australian Army Medical Corps from 1940-46, being ADMS (Equipment) in the New Guinea Force in 1943-44. On demobilization he returned to the Alfred Hospital, as surgeon to outpatients from 1946-56, and as surgeon to inpatients from 1956 till he retired prematurely in 1962 because of the onset of angina which forced him to abandon surgical practice. He spent the rest of his life as director of several industrial companies, but he maintained his association with the Alfred Hospital as a member of the Board of Management. Jim Stewart was a big gentle man, methodical and fond of hard work. He had a happy disposition and he and his wife took a delight in entertaining surgical colleagues visiting Melbourne. His own colleagues and his patients loved and trusted him. He enjoyed golf and travel, and was particularly happy in his family life. In 1937 he had married Anne Killough and they had two sons the elder of whom was killed tragically in a road accident at the age of 21, and the younger one, Malcolm, is an artist. He died of heart failure during an attack of pneumonia on 3 November 1970, and was survived by his wife and younger son.