David Lowry Swain
Encyclopedia
David Lowry Swain was the 26th Governor
of the U.S. state
of North Carolina
from 1832 to 1835.
, North Carolina
; his father, George Swain
, was a farmer and a member of the North Carolina General Assembly
. He received his early education at New Academy near Asheville
and briefly attended the University of North Carolina
. Swain left his university studies in 1821 after only 4 months to study law with Chief Justice John Louis Taylor
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
; he was admitted to the bar in 1823.
The citizens of Buncombe County chose Swain as their representative in the North Carolina General Assembly
from 1824 to 1830; he was appointed to the state Superior Court as a judge and served there from 1830 to 1832.
Swain resigned as a judge to accept the vote of the North Carolina General Assembly
to serve as governor; at the time he was the youngest governor in state history, and the first to belong to the Whig Party. As governor, Swain was a promoter of internal improvements
, including railroads and education, although he received little support form the legislature. In 1835, he chaired the state constitutional convention; his last act as governor was to issue the proclamation declaring the ratification of 1835's extensive amendments to the North Carolina Constitution
.
After serving the constitutional limit of three one-year terms, Swain was named president of the University of North Carolina
in 1835; he held this post for 33 years and promoted the growth of the institution.
During the American Civil War
, Swain was drawn back into North Carolina politics; he represented the state at an 1861 Confederate
convention, but declined a position in the Confederate Senate in 1863. In 1865, Swain helped negotiate the surrender of Raleigh
to the forces of General William Sherman
, and, following the end of the war, advised U.S. President Andrew Johnson
on Reconstruction policies.
Although Swain had attempted, facing serious challenges, to keep the University of North Carolina open during the course of the war, by 1868, the school was suffering financially, and, at the request of a new Board of Trustees appointed by the state legislature, he resigned. Swain died later that year after being injured in a bizarre buggy
accident; he is buried in Raleigh, N.C.
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1832 to 1835.
Biography
Swain was born in Buncombe CountyBuncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
; his father, George Swain
George Swain
George Swain was a local legend from Boron. His knickname was "Walking George."He had penchant for walking that made him a legend among locals, in the Los Angeles Times, and even on national television...
, was a farmer and a member of the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
. He received his early education at New Academy near Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
and briefly attended the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. Swain left his university studies in 1821 after only 4 months to study law with Chief Justice John Louis Taylor
John Louis Taylor
John Louis Taylor was an American jurist and first Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.Born in London, he is the only foreign-born Chief Justice in state history...
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
; he was admitted to the bar in 1823.
The citizens of Buncombe County chose Swain as their representative in the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
from 1824 to 1830; he was appointed to the state Superior Court as a judge and served there from 1830 to 1832.
Swain resigned as a judge to accept the vote of the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
to serve as governor; at the time he was the youngest governor in state history, and the first to belong to the Whig Party. As governor, Swain was a promoter of internal improvements
Internal improvements
Internal improvements is the term used historically in the United States for public works from the end of the American Revolution through much of the 19th century, mainly for the creation of a transportation infrastructure: roads, turnpikes, canals, harbors and navigation improvements...
, including railroads and education, although he received little support form the legislature. In 1835, he chaired the state constitutional convention; his last act as governor was to issue the proclamation declaring the ratification of 1835's extensive amendments to the North Carolina Constitution
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law...
.
After serving the constitutional limit of three one-year terms, Swain was named president of the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1835; he held this post for 33 years and promoted the growth of the institution.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Swain was drawn back into North Carolina politics; he represented the state at an 1861 Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
convention, but declined a position in the Confederate Senate in 1863. In 1865, Swain helped negotiate the surrender of Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
to the forces of General William Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
, and, following the end of the war, advised U.S. President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
on Reconstruction policies.
Although Swain had attempted, facing serious challenges, to keep the University of North Carolina open during the course of the war, by 1868, the school was suffering financially, and, at the request of a new Board of Trustees appointed by the state legislature, he resigned. Swain died later that year after being injured in a bizarre buggy
Horse and buggy
A horse and buggy or horse and carriage refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two horses...
accident; he is buried in Raleigh, N.C.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
External links
- Early Times in Raleigh, addresses delivered by the Hon. David L. Swain, 1867 Raleigh: Walter, Hughes & Co., 1867.
- Inventory of the David L. Swain Papers, 1807-1877, in the Southern Historical CollectionSouthern Historical CollectionThe Southern Historical Collection is a repository of distinct archival collections at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which document the culture and history of the American South...
, UNC-Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...