Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/99

 SWING

SYKES

into Karen and Burmese. Judge Swift received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Yale college in 1817, and from Middlebury college, Vt., in 1821. He is the author of ; Oration on Domestic Slavery (1791); System of the Laws of Connecticut (2 vols. 1795-96) ; Digest of the Laivs of Evidence in Civil and CHminal Cases, and a Treatise on Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes (1810); Digest of the Laws of Connecticut (2 vols., 1822- 23). He died in Warren, Ohio, Sept. 27, 1823.

SWING, David, evangelist, was born in Cincin- nati, Ohio, Aug. 23, 1830. He was graduated from Miami university, Oxford, Ohio. A.B., 1852, A.M., 1853 ; studied theology in Cincinnati, 1852- 53, and was principal of the preparatory depart- ment of Miami, 1853-66. During his pastorate of the Westminster Presbyterian church, Chicago, 111., 1866-75, the church edifice was destroyed in the fire of 1871, and he preached temporarily in McVicker's theatre. In the spring of 1874, in con- sequence of his liberal theological views, he was tried for heresy, and after a bitter trial acquitted, but owing to continued opposition to his church, he resigned from the presbytery and became an independent preacher. He organized the Central church of Chicago in 1876, which was conducted in McVicker's theatre until compelled by its in- creasing membership to seek larger quarters, and in 1878 erected Central Music Hall. Profes- sor Swing gained a wide reputation as an essayist and is the autlior of : Sermons (1874); Truths for To-Day (1874-76): Motives of Life (1870); Club Essays (1881), and Sermons (1884). He died in Chicago, 111., Oct. 3, 1894.

SWINTON, John, editor and author, was born in Saiton. near Edinburgh. Scotland, Dec. 12, 1829; son of William and Jean (Currie) Swinton. He emigrated to Canada in 1843, and removed to Illinois, where he was apprenticed to a printer. He was employed in New York city printing offices for some time, and afterward attended Williston seminary at Easthampton, Mass. He made his residence in Charleston, S.C., but being opposed to slavery soon removed to Kansas, where he championed the Free State party. In 1857 he settled in New York city, where he took up the study of both law and medicine, at the same time contributing to the New York Times, of which paper he was chief of the editorial staff, 1860-70 ; and was editorial writer and chief of staff on the New York Sun, 1875-83. and 1893-97. Meanwhile he became interested in labor and social problems, and published John Sivinton's Paper, a weekly, 1883-87. He is the author of many pamphlets, and: The New Issue (1870); Eulogy on Henry J. Raymond (1870); John Swinton s Travels (1880); Oration on John Brown (1881): Striking for Life (1894). He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 15, 1901.

SWINTON, William, author and educator, was born in Saiton, near Edinburgh, Scotland, April 23, 1833 ; son of William and Jean (Currie) Swinton and brother of John Swinton (q.v.). He emigrated to Canada in 1843, attended Knox college at Toronto, and Amherst college, 1851-53, preparing for the Presbyterian ministry, and in 1853 began to preach. He was professor of ancient and modern languages at the Edgeworth Female seminary, Greensborough, N.C., 1853-54, and professor in Mt. Washington collegiate institute. New York city, 1855-58. He joined the staff of the New York Times in 1858, and in 1862 became its war correspondent. His criticisms of the campaigns of Burnside, Meade and Grant led to his exclusion from the camps. In 1807 he visited the Southern states and collected first-hand from the Confederate commanders data for a history of the war. He was again on the staff of the Times, and in 1869 accepted the chair of belles- lettres in the University of California, resigning in 1874 owing to a difference with President Gil- man. He removed to Brooklyn, and devoted himself to preparing text-books which proved very popular. He was married to Kate Linton of Montreal, Canada. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Amherst in 1866, and is the author of : Rambles Among Words ; Their Poetry and Wisdom (1859); The Times Review of Mc- Clellan ; His Military Career Revieioed and Ex- posed (1864); Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac (1866); Tioelve Decisive Battles of the War (1867); History of the New York Seventh Regiment during the War of the Rebellion (1870). He died in New York city, Oct. 24, 1892.

SYKES, George, soldier, was born in Dover, Del., Oct. 9, 1822. He was graduated from the U.S. Military academy, and brevetted 2d lieuten- ant, 3d infantry, July 1, 1842, serving during the Florida war at Fort Stanbury, Fla., 1842-43. He was promoted 2d lieutenant, Dec. 31, 1843 ; was in garrison in Missouri and Louisiana, 184.3-45 ; in military occupation of Texas, 1845-46 ; was promoted 1st lieutenant, Sept. 21, 1846, and served under Generals Taylor and Scott in Mex- ico. He was commissary of Gen. David E. Twiggs's division ; was brevetted captain, April 18, 1847, for gallant conduct at the battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico, and served on frontier duty in New Mexico and Texas, 1848-61. He was promoted captain, Sept. 30, 1855, and major, 14th infantry, May 14, 1861 ; took part in the battle of Bull Run ; was commissioned brigadier-general of volun- teers, Sept. 28, 1861, and commanded the regular infantry in Washington, 1861-62. He commanded the 2d division, 5th army corps, under Fitz-John Porter in the Peninsular campaign ; was brevet- ted colonel, June 27, 1862, for Gaines's Mill, Va. ; took part in the Northern Virginia campaign.