Stewart, Charles Bellinger, 1806-1885

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Charles Bellinger Tate Stewart (1806-1885), was the son of Charles Stewart and Adrianna Bull. After studying medicine in the 1820s, Stewart moved to Cuba where he engaged in the trading business. Several months later, he returned to South Carolina and acquired his pharmacy license in June 1829. Stewart briefly resided in New Orleans as a coffee merchant before settling in Brazoria, Texas, in 1830, where he operated an apothecary store. During the Anahuac Disturbances of 1832, Stewart joined Francis W. Johnson’s company, fighting in the battle of Velasco. Following his service on the Subcommittee of Safety and Vigilance of the Brazoria District by the Convention of 1832, he was made secretary of the judicial district of Brazoria.

In 1835, Stewart married Julia Sheppard, with whom he had five children. That same year he opened a drugstore in San Felipe de Austin, received his medical license, was appointed secretary of the Permanent Council, and became the first Texas secretary of state. Elected as a representative of Austin at the Convention of 1836, Stewart was also one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Additionally, he was commissioned to design a new state flag and is believed to have drawn the original draft of the Lone Star flag. Following his establishment of a medical practice in Montgomery in 1837, Stewart served as district attorney for Montgomery County and Mirabeau B. Lamar elected him as notary public in 1841. As a representative of Montgomery County at the Constitutional Convention of 1845, Stewart also represented the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth legislatures.

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