Stewart, William James

He joined the Georgian Bay Survey (later to become the Canadian Hydrographic Service) on March 22, 1884.

He took over as Canada's First Chief Hydrographic Surveyor in 1893 and continued to survey in Georgian Bay and the North Channel until 1894.

In 1891, he surveyed Burrard Inlet in British Columbia.

In 1895-1897, he with his ship Bayfield was in Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie and Lake Huron.

In 1898, he was back at Parry Sound.

During 1901, he took part in the first year of the Lake Winnipeg survey, but for the next two years, he was in Lake Superior surveying with a new Bayfield.

He obtained his Master's Certificate, Inland Waters in 1897, though he never commanded his own survey ship.

He was a member of the International Waterways Commission in 1909.

In 1912-1913, he was appointed by the Dominion Government to determine the effect of the Chicago drainage scheme on the level of the lower St. Lawrence River.

In 1891 he surveyed Burrard Inlet and installed the first Pacific tide gauges - on the CPR wharf.

He was the Dominion Hydrographer 1904-1926.

He attended the Royal Military College of Canada and was appointed as an Officer Cadet 1880.

Stewart Street (Vancouver BC). The Canadian Government survey vessel W.J. Stewart was named for him.) Stewart Island (Algoma ON); Stewart Rock (Manitoulin Island ON)