Robert Stuart (British Army officer) facts for kids

Robert Stuart (born around 1812 – died June 17, 1901) was an important British army officer and diplomat. He worked in many places, including Eastern Europe and the Caribbean.

Early Life and Family

Robert Stuart was born in Ireland around 1812. His father was Thomas Stuart. Robert had eight brothers. One of his brothers, James Stuart, was a surgeon and also a talented artist.

In 1842, Robert Stuart married Elizabeth Sarah Cathcart. They did not have any children.

Some of his nephews also became diplomats, just like him. For example, William Horwood Stuart and Charles Leader Justice Stuart worked in areas around the Black Sea. Another nephew, Robert Stuart King, was a clergyman and a football player.

A Career in the Army and Diplomacy

Robert Stuart started his army career in 1834. He joined the 44th Foot regiment as an ensign, which is a junior officer rank. Later, he became a lieutenant and then a captain. He left the army in 1852.

However, he rejoined the army during the Crimean War. This was a big war that happened from 1853 to 1856. Robert Stuart became a major and worked with General Fenwick Williams.

After the war, he stayed in the region and started a new career as a diplomat.

• In 1858, he became a Vice-Consul in Volos, a city in Greece.
• In 1860, he was sent to check on the situation of Christians in Thessaly and Epirus.
• In 1861, he became the Consul in Albania, based in a city called Janina.
• In 1873, he was made Consul-General for Russian ports in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azof. He was based in Odessa, a major port city. His nephew, William Horwood Stuart, worked as his private secretary during this time.

In 1874, Robert Stuart moved to the Caribbean. He became the Consul-General in Haiti and also worked for the Dominican Republic. In 1876, he played a role in helping to save the life of the President of Haiti, Michel Domingue, during a difficult time of unrest.

He also wrote a secret report for the British government called "The People of the Haitian Republic." This report might have been used by his predecessor, Spenser St. John, for his own writings.

Robert Stuart retired in 1883. He passed away on June 17, 1901, at the age of 88. He is buried in Leamington Cemetery.

Other Interesting Activities

Robert Stuart was also an adventurer and a writer.

• In 1856, he led a group on an expedition to climb Mount Ararat. This is a very tall mountain located in Turkey. He was joined by Major Alick Fraser, Rev. Walter Thursby, James Theobald, and John Evans.

He also wrote several important papers about his travels and observations:

• 1868: "The Vlakhs of Mount Pindus" – This paper was about a group of people living in the Pindus mountains.
• 1869: "On the Physical Geography and Natural Resources of Epirus" – This discussed the land and natural wealth of the Epirus region.
• 1877: "The Ascent of Mount Ararat in 1856" – This was his own account of climbing Mount Ararat.
• 1878: "Haïti or Hispaniola" – This paper focused on the island of Haiti, also known as Hispaniola.