James Swan (mayor of Brisbane)
Encyclopedia
James Swan was an alderman
and mayor
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
and a member of the Legislative Council of Queensland.
, Scotland
, the son of Daniel Swan and Jennet McLaren. His father Daniel Swan was a private in the Highland Light Infantry
who was killed in the Peninsular war
. Jennet McLaren was a deaf mute, who was murdered in front of her son James in August 1823. James Swan was a devout Baptist
.
In 1831, James married Christina Mackay, daughter of John and Christina Mackay. In 1837, James emigrated from Glasgow
to Sydney
with the Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang
. In 1846, James Swan moved to Brisbane
. James's wife Christina died aged 76 years at their home "Burnside" at Swan Hill (now Windsor
), Brisbane on 27 January 1888 after a lingering illness and was buried in Toowong Cemetery
.
James married again on 10 January 1889 to Christina Meikle, daughter of the late Thomas Meikle and Christina McCallum. James Swan died on 26 May 1891 on board the ship Jelunga while in the Mediterranean Sea
bound for England
. He was travelling with his wife for a 12-month visit. Aged 80 and in poor health when he commenced the trip, many doubted they would see him return, although his health had improved during the voyage. He was buried at sea off Port Said
, Egypt
but he was memorialised on his first wife's grave in Toowong Cemetery
. James's second wife Christina died on 3 March 1929 aged 71 years. She was buried in Toowong Cemetery
with her mother Christina Meikle (née McCallum).
trade in Glasgow
. On arrival in Sydney
in 1837, he worked on Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang
's newspaper
, "The Colonialist" until it ceased publication in 1841. James then joined the staff of the Sydney Herald, but later left it to take up farming, where he did not do well.
In 1846, the "Moreton Bay Courier" was founded in Brisbane
by Arthur Sidney Lyon
, who persuaded James Swan to come to Brisbane and work on the newspaper. Lyon had money problems and about 18 months later, James Swan took over the newspaper. Lyon commenced a rival newspaper "Free Press" but James Swan competed vigorously and the "Free Press" had only a short life. In 1859, James sold the "Moreton Bay Courier" to Thomas Blacket Stephens
who renamed it the "Brisbane Courier".
James Swan was opposed to the use of convict labour in Queensland and to the grabbing of land by squatters. He also campaigned vigorously for the separation of Queensland to become a separate colony from New South Wales
. James Swan owned much real estate in and around Brisbane including two hotels. After providing for his second wife, his will directed that his substantial estate was to be distributed to various charities with the bulk of it going to the Baptist Church.
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
from 1872 to 1875 and was mayor
from 1873 to 1875.
He served on the following committees:
He was a force behind the decision to build the Victoria Bridge
, the first bridge over the Brisbane River
.
James Swan became a life member of the Legislative Council of Queensland in 1878.
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
and mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
Brisbane Municipal Council
-History:On 7 September 1859, Brisbane was proclaimed a municipality. Thus after the passing of the Municipal Institutions Act 1864 the area could establish a municipal council to administer the district - with powers relating to by-laws, to rating, to borrowings, to the control or regulation of...
and a member of the Legislative Council of Queensland.
Personal life
James Swan was born in 1811 in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the son of Daniel Swan and Jennet McLaren. His father Daniel Swan was a private in the Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
who was killed in the Peninsular war
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
. Jennet McLaren was a deaf mute, who was murdered in front of her son James in August 1823. James Swan was a devout Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
.
In 1831, James married Christina Mackay, daughter of John and Christina Mackay. In 1837, James emigrated from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
with the Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang , Australian Presbyterian clergyman, writer, politician and activist, was the first prominent advocate of an independent Australian nation and of Australian republicanism.-Background and Family:...
. In 1846, James Swan moved to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. James's wife Christina died aged 76 years at their home "Burnside" at Swan Hill (now Windsor
Windsor, Queensland
Windsor is an inner northern suburb of Brisbane, located about 3.5 km from the CBD. It is largely residential, featuring many old Queenslanders, although there is also considerable retail commercial activity, primarily concentrated along Lutwyche and Newmarket Roads.-History:Land was first...
), Brisbane on 27 January 1888 after a lingering illness and was buried in Toowong Cemetery
Toowong Cemetery
The Brisbane General Cemetery also known as Toowong Cemetery at Toowong, Brisbane was established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875. It is Queensland's largest cemetery and is located on forty-four hectares of land at the corner of Frederick Street and Mount Coot-tha Road approximately four and a...
.
James married again on 10 January 1889 to Christina Meikle, daughter of the late Thomas Meikle and Christina McCallum. James Swan died on 26 May 1891 on board the ship Jelunga while in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
bound for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was travelling with his wife for a 12-month visit. Aged 80 and in poor health when he commenced the trip, many doubted they would see him return, although his health had improved during the voyage. He was buried at sea off Port Said
Port Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
but he was memorialised on his first wife's grave in Toowong Cemetery
Toowong Cemetery
The Brisbane General Cemetery also known as Toowong Cemetery at Toowong, Brisbane was established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875. It is Queensland's largest cemetery and is located on forty-four hectares of land at the corner of Frederick Street and Mount Coot-tha Road approximately four and a...
. James's second wife Christina died on 3 March 1929 aged 71 years. She was buried in Toowong Cemetery
Toowong Cemetery
The Brisbane General Cemetery also known as Toowong Cemetery at Toowong, Brisbane was established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875. It is Queensland's largest cemetery and is located on forty-four hectares of land at the corner of Frederick Street and Mount Coot-tha Road approximately four and a...
with her mother Christina Meikle (née McCallum).
Business life
James Swan was apprenticed to the printingPrinting
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
trade in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. On arrival in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1837, he worked on Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang , Australian Presbyterian clergyman, writer, politician and activist, was the first prominent advocate of an independent Australian nation and of Australian republicanism.-Background and Family:...
's newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, "The Colonialist" until it ceased publication in 1841. James then joined the staff of the Sydney Herald, but later left it to take up farming, where he did not do well.
In 1846, the "Moreton Bay Courier" was founded in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
by Arthur Sidney Lyon
Arthur Sidney Lyon
Arthur Sidney Lyon , was a journalist and newspaper proprietor, who was also known as 'the father of the press in colonial Queensland'...
, who persuaded James Swan to come to Brisbane and work on the newspaper. Lyon had money problems and about 18 months later, James Swan took over the newspaper. Lyon commenced a rival newspaper "Free Press" but James Swan competed vigorously and the "Free Press" had only a short life. In 1859, James sold the "Moreton Bay Courier" to Thomas Blacket Stephens
Thomas Blacket Stephens
Thomas Blacket Stephens was an alderman and mayor of Brisbane. His middle name is often written as Blackett.-Personal life:Thomas Blacket Stephens was born on 5 Jan 1819 at Rochdale, Lancashire, England, the son of Rev. William Stephens and his wife Elizabeth Blacket...
who renamed it the "Brisbane Courier".
James Swan was opposed to the use of convict labour in Queensland and to the grabbing of land by squatters. He also campaigned vigorously for the separation of Queensland to become a separate colony from New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. James Swan owned much real estate in and around Brisbane including two hotels. After providing for his second wife, his will directed that his substantial estate was to be distributed to various charities with the bulk of it going to the Baptist Church.
Public life
James Swan was an aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
Brisbane Municipal Council
-History:On 7 September 1859, Brisbane was proclaimed a municipality. Thus after the passing of the Municipal Institutions Act 1864 the area could establish a municipal council to administer the district - with powers relating to by-laws, to rating, to borrowings, to the control or regulation of...
from 1872 to 1875 and was mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
from 1873 to 1875.
He served on the following committees:
- Legislative Committee 1873
- Improvement Committee 1873 - 1875
- Cab Inspection Committee 1875
He was a force behind the decision to build the Victoria Bridge
Victoria Bridge, Brisbane
The Victoria Bridge is a vehicular and pedestrian bridge over the Brisbane River. The current bridge, opened in 1969, is the third permanent crossing erected at this location...
, the first bridge over the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
.
James Swan became a life member of the Legislative Council of Queensland in 1878.
External links
- Brisbane Courier, Tuesday 2 June 1891, page 5: Newspaper report of his death