Stewart was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Peabody High School.

He was in private practice in Pittsburgh from 1928 to 1951, and was an instructor at Duquesne Law School from 1930 to 1942.

He was in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps during World War II from 1942 to 1946 and became a lieutenant colonel.

[2] On February 27, 1951, Stewart was nominated by President Harry S. Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge Nelson McVicar.

[2] He is buried at the Mount Royal Cemetery, Glenshaw, Pennsylvania.