Joseph R. Swan
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rockwell Swan was an American investment banker, football player and coach. He played college football
for Yale University
from 1899 to 1901 and was the head coach of the 1902 team. Swan later had a long and successful career in the investment banking business, serving as the president or senior partner of three major securities firms: Guaranty Company (1928–1934), Edward Smith & Co. (1934–1937), and Smith Barney & Co. (1937–1944). He was also affiliated with the New York Botanical Garden
as its president (1937–1949) and chairman of the board (1949–1858).
in 1878. He was the son of Joseph R. Swan and Emma Mann Swan. He attended preparatory school at the Groton School
.
and played for the Yale Bulldogs football
team from 1899 to 1901. Swan was a member of the 1900 Yale team that finished its season with a perfect 13–0 record, outscoring opponents by a combined score of 336 to 10. After Yale ended its season with a 28–0 victory over Harvard, The New York Times wrote that the 1900 Yale team "was without question the strongest team that has been on the field since the Princeton team of 1889."
After graduating as part of Yale's class of 1902, Chadwick agreed to return as the school's head football coach in the fall of 1902. Swan coached the 1902 Yale football team to an 11–0–1 record, outscoring opponents 286 to 22. The 1902 team's only setback came in a 6–6 tie against Army.
During the period from 1899 to 1912, Yale had 14 different head football coaches in 14 years – despite compiling a combined record of 127–11–10 in those years. During that 14-year span, the Yale football team has also been recognized as the national championship team by one or more of the major national championship selectors on seven occasions – 1900 (Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis), 1901 (Parke Davis), 1902 (Parke Davis), 1905 (Parke Davis, Whitney), 1906 (Billingsley, Parke Davis, Whitney), 1907 (Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis, Whitney), and 1909 (Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis).
During World War I
, Swan served as an officer of the American Red Cross
in Europe.
In December 1918, Swan was hired as a vice president of the Guaranty Trust Company. When the Guaranty Company was formed in 1920 as a securities firm and subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Company, Swan became a vice president. During the 1920s, he was active in the Investment Bankers Association and served as a member of its Board of Governors. In January 1928, Swan was elected as the president of the Guaranty Company.
Following the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt
as President of the United States, Swan served on the Investment Bankers Code Committee and helped develop the Investment Bankers Code. In 1934, following the division of commercial and investment banking as part of the New Deal reforms, Swan became the senior partner of Edward B. Smith & Co., which took over much of the securities business of the Guaranty Company. He was also instrumental in the establishment of self-governance for the securities industry, including the formation of the National Association of Securities Dealers. He led Edward B. Smith & Co. in a 1937 merger with Charles D. Barney & Co., and became the senior partner of the merged company, Smith Barney & Co. Swan continued as the senior partner at Smith Barney until his retirement in January 1944.
Swan also served as the president of the New York Botanical Garden
from 1937 to 1949 and as chairman of its board of managers from 1949 to 1958. When he retired from Smith Barney in 1944, Swan indicated that he intended to devote most of his attention to a 900-acre farm in Connecticut where he conducted experiments with flowers.
and the Teachers College of Columbia University
. She died in April 1965 at the couple's winter home in Florida. Swan died in November 1965 at his home in Boca Raton, Florida
.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
from 1899 to 1901 and was the head coach of the 1902 team. Swan later had a long and successful career in the investment banking business, serving as the president or senior partner of three major securities firms: Guaranty Company (1928–1934), Edward Smith & Co. (1934–1937), and Smith Barney & Co. (1937–1944). He was also affiliated with the New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
- See also :* Education in New York City* List of botanical gardens in the United States* List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City- External links :* official website** blog*...
as its president (1937–1949) and chairman of the board (1949–1858).
Early years
Swan was born in Utica, New YorkUtica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
in 1878. He was the son of Joseph R. Swan and Emma Mann Swan. He attended preparatory school at the Groton School
Groton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
.
Yale
Swan enrolled at Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and played for the Yale Bulldogs football
Yale Bulldogs football
The Yale Bulldogs football program represents Yale University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Yale's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1872...
team from 1899 to 1901. Swan was a member of the 1900 Yale team that finished its season with a perfect 13–0 record, outscoring opponents by a combined score of 336 to 10. After Yale ended its season with a 28–0 victory over Harvard, The New York Times wrote that the 1900 Yale team "was without question the strongest team that has been on the field since the Princeton team of 1889."
After graduating as part of Yale's class of 1902, Chadwick agreed to return as the school's head football coach in the fall of 1902. Swan coached the 1902 Yale football team to an 11–0–1 record, outscoring opponents 286 to 22. The 1902 team's only setback came in a 6–6 tie against Army.
During the period from 1899 to 1912, Yale had 14 different head football coaches in 14 years – despite compiling a combined record of 127–11–10 in those years. During that 14-year span, the Yale football team has also been recognized as the national championship team by one or more of the major national championship selectors on seven occasions – 1900 (Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis), 1901 (Parke Davis), 1902 (Parke Davis), 1905 (Parke Davis, Whitney), 1906 (Billingsley, Parke Davis, Whitney), 1907 (Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis, Whitney), and 1909 (Billingsley, Helms, Houlgate, National Championship Foundation, Parke Davis).
Investment banking
Swan subsequently had a 40-year career in the investment banking field. He began his career with the National Commercial Bank of Albany and became secretary of the Union Trust Company of Albany. In 1910, he became a partner in the Wall Street firm of Kean, Taylor & Co.During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Swan served as an officer of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
in Europe.
In December 1918, Swan was hired as a vice president of the Guaranty Trust Company. When the Guaranty Company was formed in 1920 as a securities firm and subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Company, Swan became a vice president. During the 1920s, he was active in the Investment Bankers Association and served as a member of its Board of Governors. In January 1928, Swan was elected as the president of the Guaranty Company.
Following the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
as President of the United States, Swan served on the Investment Bankers Code Committee and helped develop the Investment Bankers Code. In 1934, following the division of commercial and investment banking as part of the New Deal reforms, Swan became the senior partner of Edward B. Smith & Co., which took over much of the securities business of the Guaranty Company. He was also instrumental in the establishment of self-governance for the securities industry, including the formation of the National Association of Securities Dealers. He led Edward B. Smith & Co. in a 1937 merger with Charles D. Barney & Co., and became the senior partner of the merged company, Smith Barney & Co. Swan continued as the senior partner at Smith Barney until his retirement in January 1944.
Swan also served as the president of the New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
- See also :* Education in New York City* List of botanical gardens in the United States* List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City- External links :* official website** blog*...
from 1937 to 1949 and as chairman of its board of managers from 1949 to 1958. When he retired from Smith Barney in 1944, Swan indicated that he intended to devote most of his attention to a 900-acre farm in Connecticut where he conducted experiments with flowers.
Family
Swan was married to Nathalie Henderson Swan, and they had three daughters, Nathalie, Emma and Lois. Swan's wife was a founder of the Junior League of New York and a trustee of Bennington CollegeBennington College
Bennington College is a liberal arts college located in Bennington, Vermont, USA. The college was founded in 1932 as a women's college and became co-educational in 1969.-History:-Early years:...
and the Teachers College of Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University is a graduate school of education located in New York City, New York...
. She died in April 1965 at the couple's winter home in Florida. Swan died in November 1965 at his home in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
.