Background
He was born on 5 October 1845 in Coleorton in Leicestershire.
He was born on 5 October 1845 in Coleorton in Leicestershire.
From the age of eighteen, he worked at various pits around England, before settling at Annesley Colliery in 1870. The mine had a local trade union, a remanant of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Miners'. Association, and Stewart became active in lieutenant
In 1880, Stewart was elected checkweighman at Annesley, and he was a leading figure in the establishment of a new Nottinghamshire Miners'.
Association (NMA).
He was elected as its secretary in 1884, serving part-time, but was unable to make progress in recruiting members, and stood aside in 1886. Instead, in 1888, he was elected as the union's president, in which role, he campaigned for an eight-hour day. In 1897, he was again elected as secretary of the union, and also sat on the executive of the Miners'.
Federation of Great Britain.
Stewart was seriously ill in 1910, and the NMA voted to reduce his salary as a result.
He instead resigned his post, but died soon after.
