Background
Sir Ivan was the son of Major William Basil Ewart (the son of Oxford educated barrister F West Ewart) and Rebe Annette Grindle.
Sir Ivan was the son of Major William Basil Ewart (the son of Oxford educated barrister F West Ewart) and Rebe Annette Grindle.
Born at Derryvolgie House, Lisburn, where he resided until 1970, he was educated at Radley.
Born into an Irish family of linen industrialists, their firm employed over 2,500 people, making it one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of Irish linen in the western world. He took over the running of the family business after the war. Families such as the Ewarts were referred to colloquially as the "Linenocracy" or "Linen barons."
Sir Ivan served during the Second World War as Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.
He served on a Motor Torpedo Boat which he commanded which on 17 January 1942 this came under German fire and, in the ensuing explosions et cetera, He lost an eye and severely injured his right arm.
He was, distinctively, to wear an eye patch for the rest of his life. He was later captured by the Germans and sent to Colditz Castle, a camp for "incorrigible" Allied officers who had repeatedly escaped from other camps, where he spent the remainder of the war.
In 1945 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. In 1948 Sir Ivan married Pauline Preston.
He took on the running his family"s linen business, William Ewart & Son Limited., in 1954.
Other business interests included William Ewart Investments Limited, Belfast (1973-1977). Chairman and Ewart New Northern Limited, Belfast (1973-1977). In 1976, he was appointed High Sheriff of Antrim.
He was President of Oldpark Unionist Association and 1950-1968.
Belfast Harbour Commissioner from 1968-1977 and High Sheriff for County Antrim (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) Officers 1939-1945). Several weeks before his death he travelled to Germany to meet with an officer who had participated in the attack upon his MTB. This was an event he had been waiting fifty years for, he held no animosity toward the enemy, regarding them as honourable adversaries.
He lived at Hill House, Hillsborough, County Down.