George Henry Swan

George Henry Swan
George Henry Swan in 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	1833 Sunderland, England
Died	25 July 1913 (aged 79) Whanganui, New Zealand

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

Biography

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1890–1893	11th	Napier		Independent

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 described as "Independent", he was really a "conservative"; although those opposed to the Liberals had not yet formed the Reform Party.

The Swan Memorial, Napier.

Swan owned his own brewery and married an actress. He was initially a photographer by trade.^[1] He died in Whanganui on 25 July 1913.^[3][4]

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. "Obituary". Hastings Standard. 25 July 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
4. "Death". Wanganui Herald. 25 July 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2016.