Background
Swain was born on January 5, 1875 in Hollister, California, United States; the son of Thomas Henry Swain and Leila Belle (Gilbert) Swain.
Stanford, California, United States
Stanford University
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Yale University
Swain was born on January 5, 1875 in Hollister, California, United States; the son of Thomas Henry Swain and Leila Belle (Gilbert) Swain.
Swain received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1899. Two years later he earned his Master of Science degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1904 from Yale University.
Swain began his career as an instructor of chemistry at Stanford University in 1900. Two years later he took a position of an assistant professor and associate professor in 1907 at the same university. Then in 1912, Robert became a professor at Stanford University.
Also in 1917, he served as a head of chemistry department at that university and held it until his retirement in 1940 as a professor emeritus. In addition, Swain was an acting president of Stanford University in 1929-1933.
Swain was mayor of Palo Alto, California for three terms from 1914 to 1916 and a member of the city council between 1912-1921.
Swain was a chairman of International Committee on Air Pollution, Committee on Professional Training of Chemists in 1939-1941 and Committee on Biochemical Nomenclature of the National Research Council from 1936 to 1941. Also he was a director of American Chemical Society in 1937-1946.
On August 22, 1900 Robert Swain married Harriet King Cuthbertson. In May 1947, he married Juanita Elena Jaffe. They had two children.