Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/97

 SWIFT

SWIFT

Lincoln, first meeting liim at Mt. Pulaski in 1849, David Davis being the presiding judge at tlie time. For five years, 1855-60, Lincoln and Swett were the only ones to pass habitually over the cir- cuit, and the two men were companions at all times. Mr. Swett was a Whig elector in 1852, and canvassed the third congressional district of Illinois, and on the repeal of the Missouri com- promise, he assisted in forming the Republican party in 1856, being a delegate to its first conven- tion in Bloomington, May 29, 1856. He spoke for the new party in the presidential canvass of 1856, and in 1858 he represented McLean county in the state legislature, accepting offices in order to ad- vance the interests of Mr. Lincoln in his notable contest for the U.S. senatorship against Stephen A. Douglas. In 1859 he worked quietly for Mr. Lincoln's nomination as a Presidential candidate before the coming Republican national conven- tion of 1860. He was a candidate for governor of Illinois in the preliminary canvass, preceding the state convention of 1860, and was defeated by Richard Yates. In 1861 he was offered the com- mand of one of the first regiments recruited in Illinois, but his health, shattered by his experi- ence in the war with Mexico, induced him to de- cline the honor, and his service in putting down the rebellion was noticeable in his unofficial posi- tion as a close personal and political adviser of the President, which required his presence in Washington most of the tim« during the years 1861-65. This close relationship has been attested by Mr. Lincoln's private and official family and by his most reliable biographers. In 1865 he re- moved to Chicago, where he practised law until his death. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1888, where as spokesman of the Illinois delegation, he presented the name of Walter Q. Gresham as a Presidential candidate. He was the acknowledged leader at the Chicago bar and his practice, which extended to both civil and criminal cases, included many historical suits, in which he displayed remarkable legal skill and oratorical ability. Judge Grosscup re- ferred to him as " the ty])ical lawyer of the Northwest," to rank with Luther Martin, Jere- miah Mason, Rufus Choate, William Wirt and Charles O'Conor. He was orator of the day at the triennial conclave of Knights Templars at Chicago, in 1879 ; at the welcome of Gen. Grant, by the army of the Tennessee in Chicago, after returning from his tour around the world ; at the dedication of St. Gaudens's statue of Abraham Lincoln at Chicago ; and before the Illinois State Bar Association at Springfield, in 1887, on the " Life and Character of David Davis." He died in Chicago, 111., June 8, 1889.

SWIFT, Benjamin, senator, was born in Amenia, N.Y., April 8, 1780 ; son of the Rev. Job

Swift. He studied at the law school of Reeves and Gould, Litchfield, Conn., and practised suc- cessively in Bennington and St. Albans, Vt. He was a Federalist representative in the state as- sembly, 1813-14 and 1825-36; volunteered during the war of 1812, and proceeded toward Platts- burgh, but arrived too late for the battle. Under the Monroe administration he joined the National Republicans, and later the Whigs, and was a Whig representative in the 20th and 21st con- gresses, 1827-31, and U.S. senator from Vermont, 1833-29. He retired to his farm at St. Albans and devoted himself to agriculture. He died at St. Albans, Vt., Nov. 11, 1847.

SWIFT, John Franklin, diplomatist, was born in Bowling Green, Ky., Feb. 28, 1829. He re- moved to St. Louis, Mo., 1847, where he was apprenticed to a tinsmith, and in 1852 established himself as a produce merchant in San Francisco, Cal. He was admitted to the bar in 1857 ; was a member of the state legislature in 1862, 1873 and 1877 ; was the defeated Independent candidate for representative in congress in 1875, and was a Republican representative in the 45th congress, 1877-79. With James B. Angell (q.v.) and Wil- liam H. Trescot (q.v.) he was a member of the special commission appointed by President Hayes to negotiate commercial and immigration treaties with China in 1880 ; was the defeated Republican candidate for governor of California in 1886, and in March, 1889, was appointed U.S. minister to Japan. He died at Tokyo, Japan, March 10, 1891.

SWIFT, Joseph Gardner, soldier, was born in Nantucket, Mass., Dec. 31, 1783 ; son of Dr. Foster Swift, surgeon, U.S.A. ; grandson of Samuel Swift and of Thomas Delano, and a descendant of Thomas Swift, Dorchester, Mass., 1630. He attended the Bristol academy, Taunton, Mass., and was one of the first two graduates from the U.S. Military academy, being promoted 2d lieu- tenant, corps of engineers, Oct. 12, 1802. He superintended the construction of Fort Johnston, 1804-06; was promoted 1st lieutenant, Jime 11, 1805, and captain, Oct. 30, 1806 ; superintended the erection of Governor's Island batteries, Bos- ton Harbor, Mass., and the Northeastern coast defences, 1808-10 ; was promoted major, Feb. 23, 1808, and was engaged in the fortifications of the Carolina and Georgia harbors, 1810-12. He served as aide-de-camp to Ma j. -Gen. William Pinckney, 1812, being promoted lieutenant-colonel, July 6, and colonel and chief engineer, U.S.A., July 13, 1812. He served as ex-officio superintendent of the Military academy, July 31, 1812-July 28, 1817; as chief engineer in the St. Lawrence River cam- paign of 1813, receiving the brevet of brigadier- general, Feb. 19, 1814, for meritorious services ; was appointed a member of the board of engi-