James Stewart

Who was James Stewart?

James Stewart was a principal, physician, and a missionary, both a medical and religious one. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on February 14, 1831. At the age of 15 he decided that he wanted to be a missionary. He became a missionary in February 1865 for the Free Church Presbytery of Glasgow. He was a theological student who also had medical training. Stewart was described by some as “more as a friend than as a doctor” towards hi patients. He was also described as “the foremost champion of all that made for the spiritual and temporal advancement of the native races of South Africa” James Stewart focused primarily on South Africa, specifically the Zambezi region. Many people view him as a pioneer in medical missions for his founding of the hospital in Lovedale, starting a medical school, and developing the founding scheme of the South African Native College, now the University of Fort Hare.