William Swift was a rear admiral in the United States Navy, and briefly the Naval Governor of Guam in 1901.
12 Facts About William Swift
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William Swift was born in Windham, Connecticut, and entered the Navy with the rank of midshipman on 25 September 1863, graduating from the United States Naval Academy in June 1867.
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William Swift was promoted to ensign on 18 December 1868, then to master on 21 March 1870, lieutenant on 21 March 1871, lieutenant commander on 24 October 1889, and commander on 6 April 1897.
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William Swift served in this capacity from early August to early October 1901, before resuming command of Yorktown.
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On June 25,1902, William Swift was promoted to captain and subsequently assigned to the General Board of the Navy.
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William Swift was chairman of the Board's Committee on the Fleet.
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William Swift subsequently was appointed to the Joint Board of the Army and Navy.
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William Swift was suspended from duty for a year, later remitted to nine months, but was allowed to return to shore duty after six months.
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William Swift was appointed as Commandant of the Charlestown Navy Yard near Boston, Massachusetts on November 8,1907.
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William Swift was promoted to rear admiral on January 30,1908.
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William Swift retired due to his age on his 62nd birthday on March 17,1908, but acted as an adviser to the Secretary on navy yard and industrial affairs.
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Admiral William Swift died at the Naval Hospital in Newport, Rhode Island on June 30,1919, and was buried in the town of Richfield Springs, New York.