James Alexander Swettenham
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Sir Alexander Swettenham KCMG |
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|---|---|
| 20th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue | |
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In office 31 July 1891 – 10 June 1895 |
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| Preceded by | George Thomas Michael O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | William Thomas Taylor |
| 15th | |
| Acting Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements | |
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In office 1899–1901 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Charles Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Sir Frank Swettenham |
| 41st Governor of British Guiana | |
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In office 3 July 1901 – 26 September 1904 |
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| Preceded by | Walter Joseph Sendall |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Mitchell Hodgson |
| Governor of Jamaica | |
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In office 30 September 1904 – 1907 |
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| Preceded by | Augustus Hemming |
| Succeeded by | Philip Clark Cork |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Alexander Swettenham 1846 Belper, Derbyshire, England |
| Died | 19 April 1933 La Colline, Switzerland |
| Resting place | Vevey, Switzerland |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Emily née Copeland |
| Alma mater | Clare College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Colonial administrator |
Sir (James) Alexander Swettenham, KCMG (1846 - 19 April 1933) was a British colonial administrator who was Governor of British Guiana (1901–1904) and Governor of Jamaica (1904–1907).
He was born the son of James Oldham Swettenham, an attorney-at-law, near Belper, Derbyshire and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. His younger brother was Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham, also a colonial administrator.
He joined the Ceylon Civil Service in 1868 and worked there until 1883, before being appointed Receiver-General for Cyprus in 1884, returning to Ceylon in 1891 where he was appointed the 20th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue in Sri Lanka. His appointment commenced on 31 July 1891, succeeding G. T. M. O'Brien, and he held the office until 10 June 1895, when he was succeeded by J. A. Taylor. He was awarded CMG in 1892. In 1895 Swettenham moved to Singapore and served as the Colonial Secretary until 1899, becoming acting Governor that year until handing over to his brother Frank in November 1901. He was knighted KCMG in 1898.
From 1901 to 1904 he served as Governor of British Guiana before moving to Jamaica to become Governor there. In 1907 there was a severe earthquake on the island and he was responsible for dealing with its aftermath. When a corps of American marines arrived under Rear-Admiral Charles H. Davis Jr to offer assistance he asked them to leave as he had matters under control. The Americans took offence and caused a diplomatic spat referred to as the Kingston Incident, as a result of which Swettenham was obliged to resign his position.
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