George Swan (politician)

George Henry Swan (1833 – 25 July 1913) was a 19th-century businessman and Member of Parliament in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

George Swan
Swan, c. 1900
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Napier
In office
1890–1893
Preceded byJohn Davies Ormond
Succeeded bySamuel Carnell
4th Mayor of Napier
In office
1885–1901
Preceded byWilliam Isaac Spencer
Succeeded byJohn McVay
Personal details
Born
George Henry Swan

1833
Sunderland, England
Died (aged 79)
Whanganui, New Zealand
SpouseFrances née Stopher

Biography
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1890–1893 11th Napier Conservative

Born in Sunderland, England, Swan went to Australia in 1854 and settled in New Zealand in 1857. Swan served as the Mayor of Napier from 1885 to 1901; at that time, he held the record for holding the longest continuous mayoralty in New Zealand.[1]

He represented the Napier electorate from 1890 to 1893, concurrently as Mayor, when he was defeated.[2] Though sometimes described as "Independent", he was really a "conservative"; although those opposed to the Liberals had not yet formed the Reform Party. He was opposed to party government, and wanted Maori and local shipping to pay taxes.[3]

The Swan Memorial, Napier.

Swan owned his own brewery. He was initially a photographer by trade.[1]

He died in Whanganui on 25 July 1913.[4][5] He married an actress, Frances Stopher in 1884. She died in Whanganui in 1939.[6]

References
  1. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1908. p. 303.
  2. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 237. OCLC 154283103.
  3. "Members's Views". Evening Star in Papers Past. 6 December 1890.
  4. "Obituary". Hastings Standard. 25 July 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  5. "Death". Wanganui Herald. 25 July 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  6. "Death of Mrs G H Swan". Poverty Bay Herald in Papers Past. 23 January 1939.


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