Robert Steuart

Robert Steuart (1806 – 15 July 1843)[1] was a British Whig politician.[2]

Robert Steuart
Lords Commissioner of the Treasury
In office 1835–1841
Prime Minister	Lord Melbourne
Member of Parliament for Haddington Burghs
In office 18 December 1832 – 3 July 1841
Preceded by	Adolphus Dalrymple
Succeeded by	James Maitland Balfour
In office 23 May 1831 – 10 August 1831
Preceded by	Adolphus Dalrymple
Succeeded by	Adolphus Dalrymple
Personal details
Born	1806
Died	15 July 1843 (aged 36–37) Colombia
Cause of death	Fever
Nationality	British
Political party	Whig

Born in 1806, and baptised on 9 July of the same year, Steuart was the first son of Robert Steuart of Alderston and Louisa Clementina. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford from 1824 and, in 1827, married Maria, daughter of Samuel Dalrymple of Nunraw and North Berwick. They had three children—one son and two daughters, including Robert Dalrymple Steuart (1836–1864).[3]

Before his parliamentary career, Steuart became a commissioner of supply for Haddingtonshire, rallying support for local reformers and the Grey ministry at mass meetings in the winter of 1830/31. He canvassed the councils of Jedburgh and Haddington, and declared that he would stand for election at Haddington Burghs at the 1831 general election, during which there were riotous protest and the kidnapping of the Lauder baillie. An election petition was lodged and was ultimately successful with no contest from Steuart, leading to the return of the Tory, Adolphus Dalrymple. During this short tenure in parliament, Steuart voted for the second reading of the reintroduced English reform bill.[3]

Advocating the ballot, civil registration, and church reform, he was returned for the seat at the 1832, recognised for his "abundant crop of hair" and was "much respected by all parties". His reputation led him to become a Lords Commissioner of the Treasury under Lord Melbourne, but resigned the office in 1841 after being passed over for the Irish secretaryship. Dependent on government support, he held the seat until his defeat to James Maitland Balfour in 1841.[2][3][4]

Shortly after, he accepted a position as chargé d'affaires and consul general to Colombia, where he died of a fever in 1843.[3]

References

1. Rayment, Leigh (11 June 2018). "The House of Commons: Constituencies beginning with "H"". Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
2. Smith, Henry Stooks (1842). The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections (Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 203. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
3. Escott, Margaret (2009). Fisher, D. R. (ed.). "STEUART, Robert (1806–1843), of Alderston, Haddington and 10 Upper Belgrave Street, Mdx". History of Parliament. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
4. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. p. 549. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Mr Robert Steuart