William Graham Swan
Encyclopedia
William Graham Swan was an American attorney and politician active primarily in East Tennessee during the mid-19th century. Swan served in the Confederate States Congress during the American Civil War
, and served one term as mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee
, from 1855 until late 1856. He also helped establish the town of East Knoxville (later annexed by Knoxville), and served as its first mayor in the late 1850s. In 1854, Swan and his brother-in-law, Joseph Mabry, donated the initial land for the formation of Market Square
in downtown Knoxville.
. He graduated from East Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee
) in 1838, and studied law afterward. By 1843, he had a law office on Gay Street
in Knoxville, and he attended courts in Knox
, Anderson
, Roane, Campbell
, and Claiborne counties. He served as Attorney General
of Tennessee 1851 until 1853.
founded the Knoxville Gas Light Company, which installed the first gas lights on Gay Street.
Swan was elected Mayor of Knoxville in 1854, succeeding James C. Luttrell
, and served in this capacity from 1855 through most of 1856. He made a number of progressive proposals, including the construction of a tunnel to allow development over the railroad, and the digging of a canal between First Creek and Second Creek to give factories navigable access to the Tennessee River
(both proposals were rejected). A measure was also passed during Swan's tenure that attempted to rein in the city's growing number of noisy saloons by giving the city recorder the authority to close saloons for an indefinite period of time.
In 1855, Swan met John Mitchel
, an Irish nationalist
visiting in Knoxville while in exile. Swan and Mitchel established a radical newspaper, the Southern Citizen, in 1857. This newspaper defended the South and the practice of slavery, and went so far as to call for the reopening of the Atlantic slave trade.
In 1856, Swan was elected the first mayor of East Knoxville, which he had helped incorporate the previous year. Swan served as the new city's mayor until 1859. East Knoxville was annexed by Knoxville in 1868.
, whose Knoxville Whig had been quarreling with the Knoxville Register
(which was co-owned by Swan) since the early 1850s, stepped up his attacks on Swan, calling him an unprincipled politician who had defected to the Democratic Party only after being snubbed by the Whigs. When Brownlow was arrested by Confederate authorities in late 1861, Swan wrote a letter to Jefferson Davis
demanding that Brownlow be hanged.
Swan was elected to the First Confederate Congress
in November 1861, having edged out Knoxville attorney John Baxter, and was reelected in 1863. As a congressman, Swan proposed high import taxes on European nations that refused to recognize the Confederacy, rejected federal taxation, and rejected the arming of slaves. In 1864, Swan made national headlines when he attacked fellow Tennessee congressman Henry S. Foote
, who had criticized Swan's friend, John Mitchel.
After the war, Swan settled in Memphis, Tennessee
, where he practiced law. He died on April 18, 1869, and is interred in Elmwood Cemetery
.
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...
, and served one term as mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, from 1855 until late 1856. He also helped establish the town of East Knoxville (later annexed by Knoxville), and served as its first mayor in the late 1850s. In 1854, Swan and his brother-in-law, Joseph Mabry, donated the initial land for the formation of Market Square
Market Square, Knoxville
Market Square is a pedestrian mall located in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Established in 1854 as a market place for regional farmers, the square has developed over the decades into a multipurpose venue that accommodates events ranging from concerts to political rallies, and has long provided a...
in downtown Knoxville.
Early life
Swan's early life is obscure, but he was likely born in East Tennessee or AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. He graduated from East Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
) in 1838, and studied law afterward. By 1843, he had a law office on Gay Street
Gay Street (Knoxville)
Gay Street is a street in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, that traverses the heart of the city's downtown area. Since its development in the 1790s, Gay Street has served as the city's principal financial and commercial thoroughfare, and has played a primary role in the city's historical and cultural...
in Knoxville, and he attended courts in Knox
Knox County, Tennessee
Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Its 2007 population was estimated at 423,874 by the United States Census Bureau. Its county seat is Knoxville, as it has been since the creation of the county. The county is at the geographical center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee...
, Anderson
Anderson County, Tennessee
Anderson County is a U.S. county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, its population is 75,129. Its county seat is Clinton.It is included in the Knoxville, Tennessee, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Roane, Campbell
Campbell County, Tennessee
Campbell County is a U.S. county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 40,716. Its county seat is Jacksboro. The Census Bureau has identified the county as a Micropolitan Statistical Area, designated the LaFollette Micropolitan Statistical Area for the largest...
, and Claiborne counties. He served as Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of Tennessee 1851 until 1853.
1850s
Throughout the early 1850s, Swan speculated in land along the periphery of Knoxville, especially in what is now East Knoxville, which he helped develop. In 1854, he and Mabry purchased several acres of land then located north of Knoxville (the boundary at the time being Union Avenue). They donated a portion of this land to the city for creation of a Market House, laying the foundation for what is now Market Square. That same year, Swan and William Montgomery ChurchwellWilliam Montgomery Churchwell
William Montgomery Churchwell was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives.-Biography:He was born near Knoxville, Tennessee in Knox County on February 20, 1826. He attended private schools and Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia from 1840 to 1843. He...
founded the Knoxville Gas Light Company, which installed the first gas lights on Gay Street.
Swan was elected Mayor of Knoxville in 1854, succeeding James C. Luttrell
James C. Luttrell
James Churchwell Luttrell II was an American attorney and politician who served as Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee, during the Civil War. His eight-year term was the longest for any Knoxville mayor until the late 20th century, when it was surpassed by Victor Ashe's 16-year term...
, and served in this capacity from 1855 through most of 1856. He made a number of progressive proposals, including the construction of a tunnel to allow development over the railroad, and the digging of a canal between First Creek and Second Creek to give factories navigable access to the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
(both proposals were rejected). A measure was also passed during Swan's tenure that attempted to rein in the city's growing number of noisy saloons by giving the city recorder the authority to close saloons for an indefinite period of time.
In 1855, Swan met John Mitchel
John Mitchel
John Mitchel was an Irish nationalist activist, solicitor and political journalist. Born in Camnish, near Dungiven, County Londonderry, Ireland he became a leading member of both Young Ireland and the Irish Confederation...
, an Irish nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
visiting in Knoxville while in exile. Swan and Mitchel established a radical newspaper, the Southern Citizen, in 1857. This newspaper defended the South and the practice of slavery, and went so far as to call for the reopening of the Atlantic slave trade.
In 1856, Swan was elected the first mayor of East Knoxville, which he had helped incorporate the previous year. Swan served as the new city's mayor until 1859. East Knoxville was annexed by Knoxville in 1868.
Civil War
In the years leading up the Civil War, Swan was a staunch secessionist. Radical pro-Unionist William "Parson" BrownlowWilliam Gannaway Brownlow
William Gannaway "Parson" Brownlow was an American newspaper editor, minister, and politician who served as Governor of the state of Tennessee from 1865 to 1869 and as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 1869 to 1875...
, whose Knoxville Whig had been quarreling with the Knoxville Register
Knoxville Register
The Knoxville Register was an American newspaper published primarily in Knoxville, Tennessee, during the 19th century. Founded in 1816, the paper was East Tennessee's dominant newspaper until 1863, when its pro-secession editor, Jacob Austin Sperry , was forced to flee advancing Union forces at the...
(which was co-owned by Swan) since the early 1850s, stepped up his attacks on Swan, calling him an unprincipled politician who had defected to the Democratic Party only after being snubbed by the Whigs. When Brownlow was arrested by Confederate authorities in late 1861, Swan wrote a letter to Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
demanding that Brownlow be hanged.
Swan was elected to the First Confederate Congress
First Confederate Congress
The First Confederate Congress was the first regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the First Confederate Congress were chosen in elections mostly held on 6 November 1861.-Sessions:...
in November 1861, having edged out Knoxville attorney John Baxter, and was reelected in 1863. As a congressman, Swan proposed high import taxes on European nations that refused to recognize the Confederacy, rejected federal taxation, and rejected the arming of slaves. In 1864, Swan made national headlines when he attacked fellow Tennessee congressman Henry S. Foote
Henry S. Foote
Henry Stuart Foote was a United States Senator from Mississippi from 1847 to 1852 and Governor of Mississippi from 1852 to 1854. His emotional leadership on the Senate floor helped secure passage of the Compromise of 1850, which for a time averted a civil war in the United States.-Biography:Henry...
, who had criticized Swan's friend, John Mitchel.
After the war, Swan settled in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, where he practiced law. He died on April 18, 1869, and is interred in Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)
Historic Elmwood Cemetery is the oldest active cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. It was established in 1852 as one of the first rural garden cemeteries in the South.-Origins:...
.