Thomas Swann

Thomas Swann ( born February 3, 1809 in Alexandria, Virginia; † July 24, 1883 in Leesburg, Virginia ) was an American politician and 1866-1869 Governor of Maryland. Between 1869 and 1879 he represented his state in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early years and political rise

Thomas Swann attended today's George Washington University in Washington DC and then to 1827 the University of Virginia. He then studied at the law firm of his father Jura. In 1833 he was appointed by President Andrew Jackson, was appointed as secretary to the American Embassy in Naples, the then capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. After his return in 1834 he moved to Baltimore. Between 1847 and 1853 he was president of two railroads and from 1856 to 1860 he was mayor of Baltimore. During his tenure there came there from time to time riots, which led to conflicts with the then Governor Thomas Watkins Ligon. On the other hand, at that time the infrastructure of the city and the port facilities were expanded. During his time as mayor of Baltimore Swann was a member of the so-called Know-Nothing Party. After its dissolution he joined in 1860 the Union Party, which campaigned for the preservation of the Union. On 8 November 1864 he was elected governor of his state. Thomas Swann was the first and only governor of Maryland under the provisions adopted in 1864 new state constitution.

Governor of Maryland

Swann took up his new post on January 10, 1866. This year he was also elected U.S. Senator. However, a post he refused, because he preferred the governorship. During his tenure, the consequences of the Civil War had to be overcome. He managed to banish the Radical Republicans in the opposition and to prevent disenfranchisement of former supporters of the South. During this time he supported the Reconstruction policies of President Andrew Johnson. He also joined in these years of the Democratic Party. At that time, the port facilities in Baltimore were expanded and made ​​a new constitutional reform, which came into force in 1867.

Further CV

After the end of his governorship Swann was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. There he took his 1869-1879 State. He was temporarily Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. After the end of his time in Congress to Swann retired from politics. He died in July 1883. Swann Thomas was married twice and had five children.