Author: Ewart, W.
Biography:
EWART, William (1798-1869: ODNB)
Ewart appears in this bibliography because his poem, “The Temple of Diana at Ephesus,” was published in 1823 with other Newdigate prize winners. The second son of William Ewart (1763-1823), a merchant, and his wife Margaret Jaques (1773-1844), he was born on 1 May 1798 and baptised on 5 Dec. 1799 at St. George’s, Liverpool. He was educated at Eton college (1811-17) and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 22 Oct. 1817 (BA 1821, MA 1865). At Christ Church he won the college prize for Latin in 1819 and the Newdigate prize in 1820. He was admitted to the Middle Temple as a law student in 1820 and called to the bar on 26 Jan. 1826. Ewart was elected MP for Bletchingley, Surrey, in 1828 and began a long and very distinguished political career as a social reformer and liberal who supported what were often considered radical causes including the abolition of capital punishment. On 15 Dec. 1829 at Prestwich, Lancashire, he married a cousin, Mary Anne Lee; they had four daughters and one son. He died of pneumonia on 23 Jan. 1869 at his country home of Broadleas, Devizes, Wiltshire, and was buried in St. Mary the Virgin’s churchyard at Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire, on 28 Jan. His will, proved on 9 Mar. 1869, left effects of under £70,000 to his son and provided for his two surviving daughters. His eldest daughter, Mary Anne Ewart (1830-1911), also had a distinguished career, promoting further education for women. (ODNB 21 May 2024; historyofparliamentonline.org 21 May 2024; Alumni Oxonienses; ancestry.co.uk 21 May 2024) SR