George N. Swallow Explained

George N. Swallow
Office:Member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council for the 3rd District
Term Start:1898
Term End:1899
Preceded:Everett C. Benton
Succeeded:Oliver H. Durrell
Office2:Member of the Massachusetts Senate for the 2nd Suffolk district
Term Start2:1894
Term End2:1894
Preceded2:John Henry Dee
Succeeded2:Joseph J. Corbett
Office3:Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 5th Suffolk district
Term Start3:1889
Term End3:1891
Preceded3:Patrick J. Calnan / Edward Gagan
Succeeded3:Charles M. Dacey
Birth Date:2 January 1854
Birth Place:Charlestown
Death Place:West Roxbury
Resting Place:Mount Hope Cemetery
Party:Republican

George Newton Swallow (January 2, 1854 – November 23, 1931) was an American politician who served in the Massachusetts General Court and on the Massachusetts Governor's Council. He was the Republican nominee for Mayor of Boston in the 1903 Boston mayoral election

Early life

Swallow was born in Charlestown on January 2, 1854. He entered the grocery business in 1872 and was the head of the A. N. Swallow & Co., a wholesale grocery firm.[1] He resided in Charlestown until 1901 when he purchased 137 Bay State Road in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.[2]

Political career

Swallow represented Boston's Ward 5 in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1889, 1890, and 1891. He was a member of the Republican state committee in 1892 and 1893. In 1894 he represented the 2nd Suffolk district in the Massachusetts Senate. In 1894, Swallow was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for the 3rd district seat on the Massachusetts Governor's Council.[3] He was elected to the council in 1897 and served from 1898 to 1899.[4]

In 1899, Swallow was chairman of the Boston Republican committee.[5] That year, the Republicans were successful in electing Thomas N. Hart Mayor.[6] Swallow campaigned vigorously for Hart and was alleged to have spent $13,000 of his own money on the campaign.[7] By 1901, Hart and Swallow had fallen out and some younger members of the Republican party who were dissatisfied with Hart's administration proposed Swallow as a candidate for the Republican nomination.[8] After six months of consideration, Swallow announced he would not challenge Hart in the 1901 Boston mayoral election.[9]

Swallow was a candidate for mayor in the 1903 Boston mayoral election.[10] He easily defeated Michael J. Murray and E. Peabody Gerry for the Republican nomination.[11] Swallow lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Patrick Collins 63% to 29%.[12]

Later life

On January 27, 1904, Swallow's wife died at the home of a relative in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The cause of death was found to be suicide by morphine overdose. The Swallows had been separated for about a year prior to her death.[13] Swallow later remarried and moved to West Roxbury. He died on November 23, 1931, and was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and three sons.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Book: A Souvenir of Massachusetts Legislators . 1894 . 7 August 2021.
  2. News: Real Estate Matters: Bay State Road Lot Bought by Mrs T. W. Lawson--Hon George N. Swallow Buys 137 Bay State Road . . 9 . May 7, 1901 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: George N. Swallow A Candidate . . 6 . August 14, 1897 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Fight for Chairmanship: Hon George N. Swallow and Hon F. P. (sic) Hutchinson For Republican City Leaders . . 6 . January 11, 1899 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Swallow Gets It: Chosen Chairman By The Republicans . . 1, 12 . January 12, 1899 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Getting News: Crowds Out in Numbers at City Hall . . 4 . December 13, 1899 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: Set to Guessing: Politicians Concerned in Mr Swallow's Action. Old Story of the $13,000 He Spent in 1899 is Revived . . 17 . October 27, 1901 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: Named For Mayor: Hon George N. Swallow is Said to be a Candidate . . 14 . April 23, 1901 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Doesn't Want the Mayoralty: 'I Am Not a Candidate for The Nomination.' 'And I Shall Not Be a Candidate,' Says George N. Swallow . . 1 . October 22, 1901 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Swallow Will Run . . 1, 7 . September 6, 1903 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Collins Named And Swallow . . 1, 3 . November 20, 1903 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  12. Web site: Annual Report of the Board of Election Commissioners . 1903 . 192 . City of Boston . March 18, 2018 . archive.org.
  13. News: Took Morphine: Mrs. George N. Swallow of Boston Dead . . South Framingham . 2 . January 27, 1904 . January 28, 1904 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: George N. Swallow . . 23 . November 26, 1931 . 2023-05-20 . Newspapers.com.