Sir William Ewart, 1st Baronet

Who was Sir William Ewart, 1st Baronet?

Sir William Ewart, 1st Baronet was an Irish linen manufacturer and Unionist politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1889.

Ewart was the son of William Ewart of Sydenham Park County Down. He was educated at the Belfast Academy. He was a linen manufacturer and merchant and became president of the Irish Linen Trade Association. In 1859 he was mayor of Belfast and was also some time a member of the Belfast Local Marine Board. He was a magistrate for Antrim and Belfast.

Ewart was Member of Parliament for Belfast from 1878 until the constituency was divided under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, and then for the Northern Division of Belfast until his death, at which point Sir Edward Harland, Bt. was elected unopposed. Ewart was created a baronet in 1887, of Glenmachan, County Down.

Ewart married Isaella Kelso Mathewson daughter of Lavene Mathewson of Newtown Stewart, County Tyrone.