James Swan (mayor of Brisbane)
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The Hon James Swan |
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| 11th Mayor of Brisbane | |
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In office 1873–1875 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Baines |
| Succeeded by | Richard Kingsford |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Council | |
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In office 18 April 1878 – 26 May 1891 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Swan 1811 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 1891 (aged 79–80) Red Sea off Port Said, Egypt |
| Resting place | Burial at sea |
| Nationality | Scottish Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Christina Mackay (m.1831 d.1888), Christina Meikle (m.1889 d.1929) |
| Occupation | Printer, Newspaper proprietor |
| Religion | Baptist |
James Swan (1811–1891) was an alderman and mayor of the Brisbane Municipal Council and a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council.
James Swan was born in 1811 in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of Daniel Swan and Jennet McLaren. His father Daniel Swan was a private in the Highland Light Infantry who was killed in the Peninsular war. Jennet McLaren was a deaf mute, who was murdered in front of her son James in August 1823. James Swan was a devout Baptist.
In 1831, James married Christina Mackay, daughter of John and Christina Mackay. In 1837, James emigrated from Glasgow to Sydney with the Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang. In 1846, James Swan moved to Brisbane. James's wife Christina died aged 76 years at their home "Burnside" at Swan Hill (now Windsor), Brisbane on 27 January 1888 after a lingering illness and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.
James married again on 10 January 1889 to Christina Meikle, daughter of the late Thomas Meikle and Christina McCallum. James Swan died on 26 May 1891 on board the ship Jelunga while in the Mediterranean Sea bound for England. He was travelling with his wife for a 12-month visit. Aged 80 and in poor health when he commenced the trip, many doubted they would see him return, although his health had improved during the voyage. He was buried at sea off Port Said, Egypt but he was memorialised on his first wife's grave in Toowong Cemetery. James's second wife Christina died on 3 March 1929 aged 71 years. She was buried in Toowong Cemetery with her mother Christina Meikle (née McCallum).
James Swan was apprenticed to the printing trade in Glasgow. On arrival in Sydney in 1837, he worked on Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang's newspaper, "The Colonialist" until it ceased publication in 1841. James then joined the staff of the Sydney Herald, but later left it to take up farming, where he did not do well.
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