John Swinton (died 1679)

John Swinton (1621?–1679) was a Scottish politician active during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and during the Interregnum. At the Restoration he was found guilty of treason and was imprisoned for some years before being released. In later life be became a Quaker.

Swinton, born about 1621, was the eldest son of Sir Alexander Swinton of Swinton, by his wife Margaret, daughter of James Home of Framepath, Berwickshire.

Sir Alexander Swinton, who was sheriff of Berwickshire in 1640 and M.P. for the county in 1644–1645, died in 1652. Alexander Swinton (1625?–1700) was John's younger brother. John received "as good an education as any man in Scotland", and devoted his attention especially to law.

In 1646 and 1647 his name appears on the committee of war for Berwickshire, together with that of his father.

In 1649 Swinton was returned to parliament for The Merse, and in that capacity opposed the despatch of a deputation to Breda to treat with Charles II. His political views were tinged by strong religious feeling. In the following year he opposed the immediate levy of an army to oppose Oliver Cromwell's invasion of Scotland, and made common cause with those who urged that means must first be taken to purge out from the troops any who had signed the Engagement or otherwise shown signs of being influenced by carnal motives.

In February 1649 Swinton had been appointed a lieutenant-colonel with the command of a troop of horse (cavalry). After the Battle of Dunbar, his sympathies lay with the Remonstraters, and soon after the defeat of the Western Association at the Battle of Hamilton he defected to Olive Cromwell's invading English Army. In consequence of his defection, on 30 January 1651 he was sentence of death and forfeiture was pronounced against him by the Scottish parliament at Perth, and he was excommunicated by the Kirk.

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