George Swan (politician)
Member of Parliament
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 by | John Davies Ormond |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Carnell |
| 4th Mayor of Napier | |
| In office 1885–1901 | |
| Preceded by | William Isaac Spencer |
| Succeeded by | John McVay |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Henry Swan 1833 Sunderland, England |
| Died | (aged 79) Whanganui, New Zealand |
| Spouse | Frances née Stopher |
Biography
| 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]
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]
