James Stewart

James Maitland "Jimmy" Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor, known for his distinctive drawl and down-to-earth persona. He starred in many films that are considered to be classics, and is known for portraying an American middle-class man struggling with a crisis.

Stewart was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition for The Philadelphia Story (1940) and receiving one Lifetime Achievement award. Stewart was named the third greatest male screen legend of the Golden Age Hollywood by the American Film Institute. He was a major Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract star. He also had a noted military career and was a World War II and Vietnam War veteran, who rose to the rank of brigadier general in the United States Air Force Reserve.

Early life and career

Stewart was born on May 20, 1908, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, the son of Elizabeth Ruth Jackson (1875–1953) and Alexander Maitland Stewart (1871–1961), who owned a hardware store. He had Irish and Scottish ancestry, and was raised as a Presbyterian. He was descended from veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. The eldest of three children (he had two younger sisters, Virginia and Mary), he was expected to continue his father's business, which had been in the family for three generations. His mother was an excellent pianist but his father discouraged Stewart's request for lessons. When his father accepted a gift of an accordion from a guest, young Stewart quickly learned to play the instrument, which became a fixture offstage during his acting career. As the family grew, music continued to be an important part of family life.

James Stewart (Australian politician)

James Charles Stewart (17 September 1851 – 20 December 1931) was a Scottish-born Australian politician. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

Early life

Born in Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire, he received a primary education after which he worked as a farm and railway worker.

In 1888 he migrated to Australia, where he became involved in the unions movement. He edited the People's Newspaper in Rockhampton in Queensland.

Politics

James Stewart sat on Rockhampton Council.

In 1896, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the member for Rockhampton North.

In 1901, he left the Assembly to successfully contest the Australian Senate as a Labour candidate for Queensland. He remained in the Senate until his defeat in 1917.

Later life

Stewart died in 1931 at Strathpine, Queensland and was buried in Lawnton Cemetery.

James Stewart (cricketer)

James Stewart was an Australian cricketer. He played one first-class cricket match for Victoria in 1873.

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