Chapter Stewart to Stirling-Maxwell of S by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Stewart to Stirling-Maxwell

Stewart, Dugald (1753-1828).—Philosopher, son of Matthew Stewart, Professor of Mathematics at Edinburgh, was born in the College buildings, and at the age of 19 began to assist his father in his classes, receiving the appointment of regular assistant two years later. In 1785 he became Professor of Moral Philosophy, and rendered the chair illustrious by his learning and eloquence, his pupils including Lords Palmerston, Russell, and Lansdowne. Stewart was, however, rather a brilliant expositor than an original thinker, and in the main followed Reid (q.v.. His works include Philosophy of the Human Mind, in three vols., published respectively in 1792, 1813, and 1827, Outlines of Moral Philosophy (1793), Philosophical Essays (1810), Dissertation on the Progress of Metaphysical and Ethical Philosophy (1815, part II. 1821), and View of the Active and Moral Powers of Man. He also wrote memoirs of Robertson the historian, Adam Smith, and Reid. The Whig party, which he had always supported, on their accession to power, created for him the office of Gazette-writer for Scotland, in recognition of his services to philosophy. His later years were passed in retirement at Kinneil House on the Forth. His works were edited by Sir William Hamilton.

Stillingfleet, Edward (1635-1699).—Theologian, born at Cranbourne, Dorsetshire, ed. at Cambridge, entered the Church, and held many preferments, including a Royal Chaplaincy, the Deanery of St. Paul’s (1678), and the Bishopric of Worcester (1689). He was a frequent speaker in House of Lords, and had considerable influence as a Churchman. A keen controversialist, he wrote many treatises, including The Irenicum (advocating compromise with the Presbyterians), Antiquities of the British Churches, and The Unreasonableness of Separation. Stillingfleet was a good and honest man and had the respect of his strongest opponents.

Stirling, James Hutchison (1820-1909).—Philosopher, born in Glasgow, and ed. there and at Edinburgh, where he studied medicine, which he practised until the death of his father in 1851, after which he devoted himself to philosophy. His Secret of Hegel (1865) gave a great impulse to the study and understanding of the Hegelian philosophy both at home and in America, and was also accepted as a work of authority in Germany and Italy. Other works, all characterised by keen philosophical insight and masterly power of exposition are Complete Text-book to Kant (1881), Philosophy and Theology (1890), What is Thought? or the Problem of Philosophy (1900), and The Categories (1903). Less abstruse are Jerrold, Tennyson, and Macaulay (1868), Burns in Drama (1878), and Philosophy in the Poets (1885).

Stirling, William Alexander, Earl Of (1567-1640).—Poet, son of Alexander of Menstrie, and created Earl of Stirling by Charles I., 1633, was a courtier, and held many offices of state. He studied at Glasgow and Leyden, and wrote among other poems, partly in Latin, sonnets and four Monarchicke Tragedies, Darius, Cræsus, The Alexandræan Tragedy, and Julius Cæsar (1603-7), the motive of which is the fall of ambition, and which, though dignified, have little inspiration. He also assisted James I. in his metrical version of the Psalms. He died insolvent in London. The grant of Nova Scotia which he had received became valueless owing to the French conquests in that region.

Stirling-Maxwell, Sir William (1818-1878).—Historian and writer on art, son of Archibald Stirling of Keir, succeeded to the estates and title of his uncle, Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, as well as to Keir, ed. at Cambridge, afterwards travelled much. He sat in the House of Commons for Perthshire, which he twice represented, 1852-68 and 1874-80, served on various commissions and public bodies, and was Lord Rector successively of the University of St. Andrews and Edinburgh and Chancellor of that of Glasgow. His works include Annals of the Artists of Spain (1848), The Cloister Life of the Emperor Charles V. (1852), and Don John of Austria, published posthumously in 1885. They were all distinguished by research and full information, and the last two are standard authorities He married as his second wife the Hon. Mrs. Norton (q.v.).