His wife was a nightclub and bordello owner, writer and journalist. She is best known as the common-law wife of writer Stephen Crane from 1896 to his death in 1900, and took his name although they never married. She was still legally married to her second husband, Captain Donald William Stewart, a British military officer who had served in India and then as British Resident of the Gold Coast, where he was a key figure in the War of the Golden Stool (1900) between the British and the Ashanti Empire in present-day Ghana. Crane accompanied Stephen Crane to Greece during the Greco-Turkish War (1897), becoming the first recognized woman war correspondent. After his death, she returned to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1901, where she developed several properties as bordellos, including the luxurious Palmetto Lodge at Pablo Beach; she had financial interests in bars and related venues. In this same period, she regularly contributed articles to such national magazines as Smart Set and Harper's Weekly.

Stewart was a strapping Gordon Highlander who had served in Lord Robert's march from Kabul to Kandahar, in the course of which he was severely wounded. During his short Governorship he was held in high esteem. He took a great interest in the social welfare of the country, was a Director of IBEA Co. and had a sympathetic interest in the Colonists' Association. Keen supporter of Nairobi Turf Club.

Cuckoo - Sir Donald had a great understanding of his fellow men; he was handsome, courtly and chivalrous; and displayed an uncanny wisdom in administering the country ......... A sportsman to his fingertips, he had no patience with intrigue or anything but direct methods ..... His popularity was unquestioned.  

Hobley - 'Sir Donald was a curious antithesis to Sir Charles Eliot, who is, I suppose, one of our greatest living scholars. The former was a man of considerable force of character and shrewd common sense, but without business experience or training, except perhaps in the racing world. He was what might be termed an illiterate man, having no knowledge of other than the material side of life. His powers of application were undeveloped; he rarely read files, and as he went late to bed and rose late the affairs of the country had scant attention. For all that, however his knowledge of human nature and his general shrewdness carried him along. He became quite popular, and there was deep regret when he died of pneumonia after holding the post for about a year.  

Permanent Way - Sir Donald Stewart was a man of different type from Sir Charles Eliot. A bachelor who worked hard and lived hard, he had no aversion to force and scant regard for the ways of diplomacy ...... died suddenly from pneumonia, brought on by a chill which he caught while duck-shooting at Ol'Bolossat.  

Sorrenson - Useless!   

Kenya Diary - 3rd Oct. 1905 - Nandi - News has just come in reporting that Sir Donald Stewart died yesterday. De mortuis nil nisi bonum. But I trust his death will be an example to many other good men, who have only themselves to blame for an untimely end.

Borderland - ........ the news that brought universal sorrow, namely that of the death of Sir Donald Stewart, who had succumbed to an attack of pneumonia, brought on by a wetting consequent on duck-shooting at Naivasha. A fine sportsman, a firm friend, a strong man, and the finest Governor that EA had ever had, he possessed the confidence, respect, and friendship alike of the official and non-official residents of the country ....….  

Cocker - Indolent, hard drinking, and inclined to neglect the nuts and bolts of civil administration, he none the less stamped his mark on EA by a series of military expeditions against African tribes. 

Kenyatta - Governor 1904-05, was a soldier who thought in terms of punitive expeditions and strong drink.

White Man - Aug. 1904 - Sir Donald Stewart arrives and Masai are moved to Laikipia - treaty signed by Lenana to be 'enduring so long as the Masai as a race shall exist.' ........... a downright rather than a diplomatic man, a hard drinking bachelor, with none of his predecessor's shrinking from the use of force. .......... died suddenly in Autumn 1906 from pneumonia aggravated by alcoholism.  

EAHB 1905 - Joined 92nd Gordon Highlanders, 1879; served in Afghan War 1879-80; present at Lord Roberts' march from Cabul to Kandahar (severely wounded); medal and clasp star for the march; served with 92nd in Transvaal war 1881; A.D.C. to Commander-in-Chief in India 1882-84; served with mounted infantry, Soudan Campaign of 1884-85; medal and clasp, Khedive Star; served as political officer with Ashanti expedition of 1896, Star; Resident of Ashanti 1896; served in Northern Territories, Gold Coast, 1897; at the occupation of Gambaza and connected operations; appointed Chief Commissioner of Ashanti 1900; served in Ashanti War 1900; present at action of Oboso, mentioned in despatches, medal; appointed Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief, EAP, 1904; CMG 1897; KCMG 1902.

Nicholls - After Governor Eliot resigned in 1904 he was succeeded by the ex-soldier Sir Donald Stewart. Though Claud Hollis remained as the Governor's private secretary, he did not entirely approve of his new boss. He said of him, 'Though indolent, he was a disciplinarian, who thought no country could be properly administered until (to use his own phrase) the natives had been licked into shape. Intolerant of any nonsense from the settlers, Stewart was a better friend to the military than to his civil officials, often dining at their mess. Keen on sport he was a convivial host, fond of company, a hard drinker, and he never went to bed until the early hours of the morning or rose much before midday. …………. Stewart did not last long - on 1 October 1905 he died of pneumonia following a leg wound caused by falling from his horse while jumping a ditch.

North - 'Rumoured to be …. a debased brute who was kicked out of his regiment (highlanders of some sort) for alcoholism and other bestiality' (McGregor-Ross, RH)

Barnes - Nairobi South Cemetery - Sir Donald William Stewart KCMG, died 1 Oct 1905

Facebook - Historia Ya WaKenya - Hollis and another member of the Secretariat, N.A. Kenyon-Slaney, found their boss's late night states of inebriation intolerable and they opted to move out.

Stewart did not last long however. On 1st October 1905 he died of pneumonia, a bout that followed a leg wound that had been caused by a fall from his horse while jumping a ditch.

Gazette - 15/10/1905 - Obituary - The death of Sir Donald Stewart, His Majesty's Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief is announced with deep regret. The deceased was on Saturday September 23rd taken ill with Pneumonia at Nairobi on his return from a tour of inspection in the Kenya and Naivasha Provinces and the illness terminated fatally on the morning of Sunday October 1st.

After many years service in various parts of the world including 14 years on the West coast of Africa Sir Donald Stewart was appointed Commissioner of the East Africa Protectorate in July 1904. Although he had only occupied this position for a little over a year, Sir Donald Stewart had done much towards solving some of the difficult problems connected with the administration of a new country such as East Africa.

From the following which has been received from the Secretary of State it will be seen in what high esteem the late Commissioner was held by the authorities at the Colonial Office:-

"I have received with great regret your telegram reporting the death of Sir Donald Stewart through which the Public Service has sustained a heavy loss."

Socially Sir Donald deservedly enjoyed a wide spread popularity among all classes alike and his charming personality will be keenly missed by many. All the officials who have served under him feel that they have lost a respected chief and sincere friend.

Mombasa Catherdal plaque:  in memory of / Sir Donald William / Stewart K.C.M.G. / his Majesty's Commissioner / and Commander-in-Chief for / the East Africa Protectorate / who died at Nairobi / on the 1st October 1905 this tablet is erected by his / brother officers and friends

One entry on web says Donald Ave (now Kenyatta Ave, Nakuru, was named for Donald William Stewart, Gov. of Kenya