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James Swan (financier)
Encyclopedia
James Swan was an early American
patriot and financier. Born in Fife
shire, Scotland, he moved at a young age to Boston
, Massachusetts
. In the 1770s and 1780s he worked as a clerk, and became increasingly involved in the political, military and economic life of the city. Business took him to France in the 1780s, where he spent most of the rest of his life, including long years in debtor's prison. He died in Paris, shortly after release from incarceration.
, participated in the Boston Tea Party
, and served in the Battle of Bunker Hill
in 1775. Friends and associates included Perez Morton
and Henry Knox
.
In 1776 he married Hepzibah Clarke
; they had four children: Hepzibah (Hepsy), born ca. 1777; Christiana (Kitty), born ca.1778; Sarah (Sally), born ca.1782; James Keadie, born ca.1783. Around this time Swan resided in the vicinity of Tremont Street
in the former house of Stephen Greenleaf. "On the site of Temple Place a colonial house surrounded by a brick wall and a grove of trees was built in 1684, and here dwelt General James Swan. The house ... staged many a thrilling scene during the struggle for independence. The Swan estate comprised over an acre, extending from St. Paul's Church
to and along West Street." (The estate became Washington Gardens
after 1815).
He held several posts in the Massachusetts government, ca.1777-1778, including the Massachusetts Board of War and the legislature. He belonged to the Scots Charitable Society of Boston
. Swan was active in privateer enterprises during the Revolution. He bonded or owned numerous vessels with his Boston associates such as Mungo Mackay
, Elias Parkman, Paul Dudley Sargent, Thomas Adams. In 1786 Swan purchased islands on the Maine coast, including Swan Island
.
.
Swan returned to the U.S. in 1794 or 1795. He travelled to Philadelphia and while there posed for portraitist Gilbert Stuart
; the finished painting is now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Around 1796 he built a summer home in Dorchester, possibly designed by Charles Bulfinch.
He again went to France in 1798. He was imprisoned in Paris for debt in 1808, and released ca.1830. He died in Paris in 1830.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
patriot and financier. Born in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
shire, Scotland, he moved at a young age to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. In the 1770s and 1780s he worked as a clerk, and became increasingly involved in the political, military and economic life of the city. Business took him to France in the 1780s, where he spent most of the rest of his life, including long years in debtor's prison. He died in Paris, shortly after release from incarceration.
Boston, 1765-1787
Swan emigrated from Scotland to Massachusetts in 1765. In Boston he worked in a counting house and as a shop clerk. He was a member of the Sons of LibertySons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group made up of American patriots that originated in the pre-independence North American British colonies. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations by the British government after 1766...
, participated in the Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies...
, and served in the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
in 1775. Friends and associates included Perez Morton
Perez Morton
Perez Morton was a lawyer and revolutionary patriot in Boston, Massachusetts.-Biography:Morton was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1751, and raised in Boston. His father, Joseph Morton, worked as a tavern-keeper at the White Horse Tavern. Perez attended the Boston Latin School starting around...
and Henry Knox
Henry Knox
Henry Knox was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, and also served as the first United States Secretary of War....
.
In 1776 he married Hepzibah Clarke
Hepzibah Swan
Hepzibah Swan lived in Boston, Massachusetts in the late 18th century/early 19th century. She was prominent in the social life of Federal-era Boston. Lifelong friends included revolutionary war heroes Henry Knox and Henry Jackson....
; they had four children: Hepzibah (Hepsy), born ca. 1777; Christiana (Kitty), born ca.1778; Sarah (Sally), born ca.1782; James Keadie, born ca.1783. Around this time Swan resided in the vicinity of Tremont Street
Tremont Street
Tremont Street is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts.-Etymology:The name is a variation of one of the original appellations of the city, "Trimountaine," a reference to a hill that formerly had three peaks. Beacon Hill, with its single peak, is all that remains of the Trimountain...
in the former house of Stephen Greenleaf. "On the site of Temple Place a colonial house surrounded by a brick wall and a grove of trees was built in 1684, and here dwelt General James Swan. The house ... staged many a thrilling scene during the struggle for independence. The Swan estate comprised over an acre, extending from St. Paul's Church
Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston
The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston is the historic cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Located at 138 Tremont Street near Downtown Crossing, directly across from Boston Common and Park Street Station, the cathedral is adjacent to the diocesan offices. The current dean...
to and along West Street." (The estate became Washington Gardens
Washington Gardens (Boston)
Washington Gardens was a place of public entertainment and refreshment in early 19th-century Boston, Massachusetts. Also known as Vauxhall, it specialized in fireworks, circuses, musical and theatrical performances, pictorial exhibitions, and the occasional balloonist and necromancer. John H...
after 1815).
He held several posts in the Massachusetts government, ca.1777-1778, including the Massachusetts Board of War and the legislature. He belonged to the Scots Charitable Society of Boston
Scots Charitable Society of Boston
The Scots Charitable Society of Boston, Massachusetts, was established to provide relief for local, "needy Scotch people, after proper investigation." It "enjoys the distinction of being the oldest Scots society in America." It "became the prototype for thousands of other groups" of private...
. Swan was active in privateer enterprises during the Revolution. He bonded or owned numerous vessels with his Boston associates such as Mungo Mackay
Mungo Mackay
Mungo Mackay was a Scottish seafarer from the Orkney Islands who made a fortune in the Boston shipping trades in Massachusetts. Mungo was a highly regarded ship master, successful privateer owner and bonder, and operated a store on Long Wharf in Boston. He was also active in the politics of the...
, Elias Parkman, Paul Dudley Sargent, Thomas Adams. In 1786 Swan purchased islands on the Maine coast, including Swan Island
Swan's Island, Maine
Swan's Island is an island town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. It is named after Colonel James Swan of Fife, Scotland, who purchased this island and some surrounding areas and organized their colonization in the 18th century. The population was 327 at the 2000 census. The town is...
.
France, 1787-1830
After various ventures in finance and real estate, and years of living in high style, in 1787 or 1788 the indebted Swan moved to France. En route, he stayed at Mt. Vernon as a guest of George Washington. In France his social circle included Lafayette. Swan was successful in his business activities related to the millions of dollars owed by the United States to France. While in France, Swan acquired furniture, now held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, BostonMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
.
Swan returned to the U.S. in 1794 or 1795. He travelled to Philadelphia and while there posed for portraitist Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Charles Stuart was an American painter from Rhode Island.Gilbert Stuart is widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists...
; the finished painting is now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Around 1796 he built a summer home in Dorchester, possibly designed by Charles Bulfinch.
He again went to France in 1798. He was imprisoned in Paris for debt in 1808, and released ca.1830. He died in Paris in 1830.
Writings by Swan
- A dissuasion to Great-Britain and the colonies, from the slave trade to Africa. (1773).
- National arithmetick or, Observations on the finances of the commonwealth of Massachusetts: with some hints respecting financiering and future taxation in this state: tending to render the publick contributions more easy to the people. (1786).
- Causes qui se sont oppose´es aux progre's du commerce entre la France, et les E´tats-Unis de l'Ame´rique. (1790).
Further reading
- Howard C. Rice. James Swan: Agent of the French Republic 1794-1796. The New England Quarterly, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Sep., 1937), pp. 464-486.
- Howard C. Rice. Notes on the "Swan Furniture." Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts, Vol. 38, No. 227 (Jun., 1940), pp. 43-48.
- Eleanor Pearson DeLorme. The Swan Commissions: Four Portraits by Gilbert Stuart. Winterthur Portfolio, Vol. 14, No. 4 (Winter, 1979), pp. 361-395.
External links
- Dorchester Atheneum (website of history of Dorchester, Massachusetts)