John Swanwick was an American merchant, poet and politician.
12 Facts About John Swanwick
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John Swanwick served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and from 1795 to 1798 served in the United States representative from Pennsylvania in the 4th and 5th congresses.
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John Swanwick's father was appointed as the commander of a revenue cutter, responsible for enforcing customs on the Delaware River.
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John's father, Richard, was a staunch loyalist, which resulted in the senior Swanwick being forced to flee to New York after the British evacuation from Philadelphia, returning in 1783.
5.
In 1778, John Swanwick was accused of forwarding secrets to the British via his exiled father.
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An investigation cleared him and John Swanwick joined the second militia of the Sixth Battalion.
7.
In 1792, John Swanwick was elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly on a ticket that opposed Federalist policies.
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John Swanwick supported the establishment of a state hospital, public support for schools and the end of debtors' prison.
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John Swanwick later supported establishment of the Insurance Company of North America, which continues to exist as a unit of Chubb Limited.
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John Swanwick considered the rebellion to be undemocratic and established himself on the side of the rule of law while still opposing the excise tax.
11.
John Swanwick organized demonstrations in Philadelphia and supported a move in the House to refuse to fund the money necessary to execute the treaty.
12.
John Swanwick then broke with the Republicans and supported construction of frigates as authorized by the Naval Act of 1794 believing that the United States should have its own Navy and should build ships domestically rather than buying them from overseas.