Trials of war took their toll on City Father
THE sudden death of Sir James Watson Stewart, Bart, robbed Glasgow of one of the finest men ever to have held the title of Lord Provost, said the Herald of November 10, 1922. The Great War was at its height when Sir James, whose residence was Balgownie, Bearsden, became first citizen of the Second City of the Empire.
Paying tribute to Sir James, the Herald noted sympathetically: "The circumstances of his term of office as Lord Provost conspired to make it a period of great physical and nervous strain on the civic chief, and the stress of his unremitting devotion to duty at that time was in large measure responsible for his failure in health."
While Sir James faced special problems during his term of office, the Herald said he had brought "a long experience of public administration, a cultured mind, and an urbanity of manner that made him eminently fitted for the difficult tasks that lay to his hands."
The paper went on to point out that it was a time when "national affairs constantly mingled with civic. During the last year of the war he was called upon to lead the city in the mobilisation of its resources in the national interest and to these he devoted himself with customary zeal and unsparing attention."
The Herald praises his efforts in what is referred to as the "Tank" campaigns, along with other schemes which were successful thanks to the exertions of the Lord Provost.
It then goes on to say that war conditions cheated Sir James of being able to preside over many ceremonies which would have made his reign memorable.
That being so, it seems strange today that the Herald did not see fit to mention the biggest crisis to grip the city while Sir James was its civic head, the dramatic events that arose from the "Forty Hour Strike" of 1919. The establishment feared that Red Clydeside would fan the flames of a Bolshevik revolution which would grip the whole country.
Glasgow was worst affected by the dispute and as Lord Provost Watson Stewart discussed the crisis with strike leaders inside the City Chambers a massive crowd jammed George Square. While possibly the biggest crowd Glasgow had even seen massing outside the City Chambers was left out of the Herald's account of Sir James's term as Lord Provost, the visits of the Prince of Wales, to inspect the industries of Clydeside, and the Duke of York did rate a mention. He also welcomed Earl Haig, Earl Beatty and the President of France, Raymond Poncaire, to the city. And the paper records that it fell to Sir James's happy lot to take part as civic chief in the enthusiasms of Armistice Day and also in the quieter celebrations of the signing of the Peace Treaty.
War conditions meant that few ambitious municipal projects could be expected of Sir James who, the Herald said, had to content himself with maintaining the city's welfare rather than embarking on grand schemes. "With his ripe experience and trained judgement he was careful to direct the city's energies in a manner with compatible with the difficult times through which the nation had passed and was passing." But he did oversee "two outstanding developments" - the inauguration of the corporation's housing scheme and the reorganisation of its health department.
In 1920 Sir James's public services were recognised by King George V who created him a Baronet, and also by Glasgow University who conferred upon him an honorary degree. Other honours included the Cross of Commander of the Order of the Crown, awarded by the King of Belgium, and the French Cross of the Legion of Honour, from President Poincare. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Glasgow and for Lanarkshire.
The artist Sir John Lavery was commissioned by the city to paint his portrait, a copy of which was presented to Lady Watson Stewart. The original can still be seen in the City Chambers. The couple had three sons and five daughters.
Born in Rome in 1852, Sir James was educated at Irvine Academy and privately before entering a career in accountancy. He ran his own practice and first entered public service in 1890 as a county councillor in Dunbartonshire, succeeding the industrialist Lord Overtoun as convener 18 years later. By that time he had also begun his public service to Glasgow, winning the city's Blythswood ward in 1904.
The Herald was keen to point out that his municipal services represented only part of his public duties. He represented both Dumbarton and Glasgow Town Councils at different times on the Clyde Trust, and played a prominent role in various educational authorities. Sir James was also a governor of the West of Scotland Agricultural College. Another interest was the Glasgow Trades House and he was a Deacon of the Hammermen.
It is ironic that the man who would later become Glasgow's first citizen once campaigned against the city imposing tramcars on the suburbs.
In 1904 as a County Councillor, Watson Stewart was part of a delegation that met with Glasgow's Tramway Committee and extracted a promise from its chairman that the city would not impose trams on areas where they were not wanted.
One of their biggest fears was that if trams ran on a Sunday, the suburbs would be invaded by day trippers from the city.
The Herald said: "It was explained that these districts were already seriously inconvenienced by people from Glasgow, that drinking and misconduct had been rampant, and if tramways were introduced that evil would be vastly increased."
Watson Stewart said 420 householders out of 490 had signed a petition. It was 1934 before trams finally ran from Glasgow to Milngavie.
His death occurred during a visit to his eldest son, Alexander, who succeeded to his title as Baronet, in Banchory, Kincardineshire. He is buried in New Kilpatrick Churchyard.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Milngavie
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
