Sir Alexander Stuart (1824 - 1886)

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1885

Son of Alexander Stuart, writer to the signet, and his wife Mary McKnight. Married Christiana Eliza Wood on 10 November 1853 at Cobbity, New South Wales had issue, l son and 3 daughters.

Businessman. Educated at Edinburgh Academy from 1832 until 1835; attended University of Edinburgh but did not graduate. Worked in merchant's offices in Leith and Glasgow; then manager of North Ireland Linen Mills, Belfast. Joined Carr Tagore & Co., mercantile and banking firm in Calcutta. Moved to New Zealand in 1850 and arrived in Sydney in October 1851; Travelled to Ballarat goldfield, Victoria, for few months; returned to New Zealand, where failed in sheep farming venture; returned to New South Wales August 1852. Joined Bank of New South Wales as assistant secretary in 1852; also assistant inspector in 1853; Secretary and inspector 1854 at £1200 p. a. Partner in R. Towns (q. v.) & Co. 1855, and senior partner on Towns' death in 1873. Director of the Bank of New South Wales from 1855 until 1861, 1867 until 1876, 1877 until 1879; President in 1861. In 1860s and 1870s was Trustee of Savings Bank of New South Wales and sometime Chairman Australian General Assurance Company. Director of Waratah Coal Co; took up extensive mining leases in Illawarra district in 1870s; from late 1870s chairman and proprietor Coal Cliff Coal Co. and a Director of the Trust and Agency Co. of Australia. In 1880s a Director of the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia Limited, the Bowenfels Coal Mining and Copper Smelting Company and the Sydney Exchange Co. (1882 until 1886); also local director of the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company. In 1860s invested extensively and unprofitably in properties in Queensland through R. Towns & Co; had real estate on North Shore, Sydney; owned two steamships built 1879. Almost bankrupt from1879 until 1880, but recovered. Commissioner for New South Wales at International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876; Executive Commissioner for New South Wales at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition 1886. Devout Anglican; lay member Sydney Diocesan synods from 1866; active on standing committee; represented Sydney on Provincial Synod from 1874 until 1883 and on General Synod from 1876; member of St Andrew's Cathedral Chapter from 1868; trustee Church lands, and of Moore Theological College; on Committee Church Society; fellow St Paul's College, University of Sydney; a founder of the Church of England Defence Association; asked by Bishop Barker to stand for the Legislative Assembly in 1874; favoured state aid to church schools. Friend of Charles Cowper from early 1850s; sued Rev. J. D. Lang for criminal libel 1855, resulting in latter's imprisonment for 6 months. Handicapped by stroke from October 1884. Estate valued at £83, 600.