Sir Charles Swann, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Ernest Swann, 1st Baronet, (25 January 1844 – 13 July 1929) was a British
businessman and Liberal Party
politician.
He was born as Charles Ernest Schwann, fifth son of J Frederick Schwann of Gloucester Square, London
(and originally from Frankfurt
, Germany
) and Henrietta Kell of Birmingham
. His father carried on business in Huddersfield
, Yorkshire
, and Charles received his early education in the town. He subsequently attended Owen's College, Manchester
and University College, London.
Swann became a merchant in Manchester, and became a leading member of the Liberal movement in the city. He was, by turn, the secretary, treasurer and president of the Manchester Liberal Association. He was also president of the Manchester Reform Club and for nine years president of the National Reform Union.
In 1885
he was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the new constituency of Manchester North
. However, another general election was held in the following year
, and Swann was elected as member of parliament
. He was to remain Manchester North's MP until 1918. He was regarded as an "advanced radical", and took an interest in the constitutional affairs of India
, attending the opening of the National Indian Congress in 1890.
In 1906 Charles Schwann was created a baronet "of Prince's Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington
" and in 1911 he was as appointed to the Privy Council
. In 1913 Schwann changed his surname to Swann by royal licence.
He married Elizabeth Duncan in 1876, and they had four sons and a daughter. Sir C E Swann died at his residence in Birkdale
, Lancashire
in 1929, aged 85. He was buried in Putney Vale Cemetery
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman and Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
He was born as Charles Ernest Schwann, fifth son of J Frederick Schwann of Gloucester Square, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(and originally from Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) and Henrietta Kell of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. His father carried on business in Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and Charles received his early education in the town. He subsequently attended Owen's College, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and University College, London.
Swann became a merchant in Manchester, and became a leading member of the Liberal movement in the city. He was, by turn, the secretary, treasurer and president of the Manchester Liberal Association. He was also president of the Manchester Reform Club and for nine years president of the National Reform Union.
In 1885
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
he was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the new constituency of Manchester North
Manchester North (UK Parliament constituency)
Manchester North was one of six single-member Parliamentary constituencies created in 1885 by the division of the existing three-member Parliamentary Borough of Manchester. It was abolished in 1918.-Boundaries:...
. However, another general election was held in the following year
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, and Swann was elected as member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. He was to remain Manchester North's MP until 1918. He was regarded as an "advanced radical", and took an interest in the constitutional affairs of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, attending the opening of the National Indian Congress in 1890.
In 1906 Charles Schwann was created a baronet "of Prince's Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington
Metropolitan Borough of Kensington
The Metropolitan Borough of Kensington was a Metropolitan borough in the County of London from 1900 to 1965.It bordered Chelsea, Fulham, Hammersmith, Paddington, and Westminster...
" and in 1911 he was as appointed to the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. In 1913 Schwann changed his surname to Swann by royal licence.
He married Elizabeth Duncan in 1876, and they had four sons and a daughter. Sir C E Swann died at his residence in Birkdale
Birkdale
Birkdale is a village and district in the southern part of the conurbation of the town of Southport, within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, though historically in Lancashire, in the north-west of England. The village is located on the Irish Sea coast, approximately a mile away from...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in 1929, aged 85. He was buried in Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery
Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London is surrounded by Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and is located within forty-seven acres of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938...
.