Career
Born in Sunderland, England, Swan went to Australia in 1854 and settled in New Zealand in 1857. Swan served as the Mayor of Napier from 1885 to 1901. At that time, he held the record for holding the longest continuous mayoralty in New Zealand.
He represented the Napier electorate from 1890 to 1893, concurrently as Mayor, when he was defeated.
Though described as "Independent", he was really a "conservative". Although those opposed to the Liberals had not yet formed the Reform Party.
He was initially a photographer by trade. He died in Whanganui on 25 July 1913.