Duncan Stewart (January 16, 1761 – November 26, 1820) was a veteran of the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
, slave owner, frontiersman, and politician. He holds the very rare distinction of having served three separate states state legislatures over his life, in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
Early life
Duncan Stewart was born January 16, 1761. He was the son of William Stewart, a Scottish immigrant. His mother was Janet Stewart, née McDougal. He was a 14th generation descendant of
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...
.
During the
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
, Stewart entered the
Continental Army
The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...
as a private, eventually being promoted to the rank of colonel of North Carolina troops.
Stewart was married to Penelope Jones. Their children were, William, who died in infancy; Tignal J. (1800-1855), a member of the
Mississippi Legislature
The Mississippi Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The bicameral Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi State Senate, with 52 me ...
who married Sarah, a daughter of Judge Peter Randolph; James A. (1811-1883), who married Juliana, another daughter of Judge Randolph; Charles Duncan (1812/3-1886), a planter who married a daughter of U. S. Senator John Black; Catherine (1804-1829), who married Judge Harry Cage; and Eliza (died 1870), who married Colonel W. S. Hamilton and was the mother of State Senator Jones S. Hamilton.
in the North Carolina General Assembly. From 1790 to 1792 he represented Bladen County in the House of Commons (then the name of the state House of Representatives), and in the
State Senate
A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...
from 1793 to 1794.
After he moved to Tennessee, he served as Tennessee state senator for the fourth, fifth, and sixth General Assemblies. He represented Montgomery and Robertson Counties fourth and fifth General Assemblies, and he represented Montgomery, Robertson, Dickson, and Stewart Counties in the sixth General Assembly. Stewart County was carved out from the western part of Montgomery County, and is named after him. It was formed on November 3, 1803.
In 1811, he moved to
Woodville, Mississippi
Woodville is a town in and the county seat of Wilkinson County, Mississippi, United States. Its population as of 2020 was 928.
History
This historic town, one of the oldest in Mississippi, is set among the rolling hills and pastures of Wilkins ...
where he began cotton farming. After Mississippi achieved statehood, he was elected both as a Mississippi state senator and as the inaugural
Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
The lieutenant governor of Mississippi is the second-highest ranking executive officer in Mississippi, below the governor of Mississippi. The office of lieutenant governor was established when Mississippi became a state, abolished for a few decade ...
. He was elected President Pro Tempore of the Mississippi Senate. Alongside Governor David Holmes, Stewart served as Lieutenant Governor from October 7, 1817 to January 5, 1820.
In 1812, he had Holly Grove built.
Death
Duncan Stewart died on November 26, 1820, at his plantation home, and was buried next to his twin brother James. The two are buried at the Stewart Two cemetery with four other people out in the woods in southern Mississippi.