James SWAN

SWAN, JAMES (b. Glasgow, 1811; d. on the Red Sea, 26 May 1891). Newspaper proprietor, businessman, politician.

James Swan was born to a soldier, Pte Daniel Swan, and his deaf-mute companion, Janet McLaren. In 1823, 13 year old Swan witnessed a fatal attack on his mother by her lover's new paramour. Fostered out, he eventually became a newspaper compositor. He arrived in Sydney in Dec 1837 and worked on J D Lang's newspaper, the Colonist, for three years. After brief, unsuccessful attempts at farming and short stints with Sydney newspapers, he moved to Brisbane in June 1846 as printer for the Moreton Bay Courier. In July 1848 he bought the Courier, later selling it in 1859 to T B Stephens (q.v.). He opposed the squatters and the re-introduction of convict labour and strongly advocated Queensland's separation from New South Wales. As a successful businessman he became quite well-to-do. He served as an alderman and in 1873-5 was mayor of Brisbane. From 1878 to his death he as an MLC.

Swan married Christina Mackay in 1831. A year after her death in January 1888, he married Christina Meikle, aged 31 years. On a trip to Scotland he died near Port Said. There were no children by either marriage. Coming from a Baptist church in Glasgow, Swan joined the Bathurst Street Baptists in Sydney, and was an early supporter of Brisbane's united Protestant church from 1849. A foundation member of the first Baptist church in 1855, he actively supported the Baptist cause throughout his life. He willed some £25 000 to the Baptist denomination for the support of evangelists but because of a technicality the bequest was disallowed. After his wife's death the remainder of his estate, about £11 000, passed to the Baptist Church in 1930.

ADB 6, BRQP

STAN W NICKERSON