John Swainson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Swainson
42nd Governor of Michigan
In office January 1, 1961 – January 1, 1963
Lieutenant	T. John Lesinski
Preceded by	G. Mennen Williams
Succeeded by	George W. Romney
52nd Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
In office January 1, 1959 – January 1, 1961
Governor	G. Mennen Williams
Preceded by	Philip Hart
Succeeded by	T. John Lesinski
Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court
In office January 1, 1971 – November 7, 1975
Preceded by	John R. Dethmers Harry F. Kelly
Succeeded by	James L. Ryan
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 18th district
In office January 1, 1955 – January 1, 1959
Preceded by	Allen H. Blondy
Succeeded by	Raymond D. Dzendzel
Personal details
Born	(1925-07-31)July 31, 1925 Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Died	May 13, 1994(1994-05-13) (aged 68) Manchester, Michigan, U.S.
Resting place	Oak Grove Cemetery Manchester, Michigan
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Alice Nielsen
Education	Olivet College (BA) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Unit	C Company, 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Croix de Guerre Presidential Unit Citation Purple Heart

John Burley Swainson (born July 31, 1925 – died May 13, 1994) was an important politician and judge. He was born in Canada and later became an American citizen. He served as the 42nd governor of Michigan from 1961 to 1963.

Early Life and Education

John Swainson was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. When he was two years old, his family moved to Port Huron, Michigan. His father, John A. C. Swainson, was also involved in politics. He was a presidential elector for Michigan in 1964.

Young John was a strong leader. He was the captain of his high school football team. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts.

Military Service and Recovery

Swainson bravely served in the United States Army during World War II. On November 15, 1944, he was severely injured by a landmine explosion near Metz, France. He lost both of his legs. Even before he turned 20, he received several awards for his bravery. These included France's Croix de Guerre, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Purple Heart.

After his injury, Swainson spent many months recovering. He was at the Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. He worked hard to learn how to walk again without help.

College and Law School

After the war, Swainson attended Olivet College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree there. At Olivet, he met and married his wife, Alice Nielson. They moved together to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He studied law there and earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1951. While in law school, his classmates elected him as their student president.

Political Career in Michigan

John Swainson began his political journey in Michigan. He was elected to the Michigan State Senate in 1954. He represented the 18th District and was reelected in 1956.

Becoming Lieutenant Governor

In 1958, Swainson became the lieutenant governor of Michigan. He took over this role when Philip Hart was elected to the U.S. Senate. Swainson served under Governor G. Mennen Williams. Governor Williams was very popular and had served for a long time. When he decided not to run again in 1960, Swainson decided to run for governor.

Serving as Governor

On November 8, 1960, John Swainson won the election to become governor. He was 35 years old, making him the youngest governor of Michigan in the 20th century. He was also the second governor of Michigan to be born outside the United States. His lieutenant governor was T. John Lesinski.

During his two years as governor, Swainson worked on several important issues. He helped improve court procedures and medical care for older people. He also supported raising taxes on certain items like liquor and cigarettes to help fund educational programs.

One notable action he took was canceling the $0.25 toll on the Blue Water Bridge. This bridge connects Port Huron, Michigan, with Sarnia, Ontario, in Canada. The bridge's construction costs had been paid off. He also appointed the first African American judge to the Michigan Supreme Court.

End of Governorship

In 1962, Swainson ran for reelection but was defeated. He lost to George W. Romney, who was the chairman of the American Motors Corporation. Romney had not held an elected office before.

Later Years and Legacy

After his time as governor, John Swainson continued to be active in public life. In 1963, he joined Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh in a large "Walk for Freedom" march in Detroit.

He later served as a Michigan Circuit Court judge from 1965 to 1971. Then, he became a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1971 to 1975. Later in his career, he faced some legal challenges and decided to step down from the Supreme Court.

After leaving the court, Swainson became an antiques dealer. He also became the president of the Michigan Historical Commission. He was known for his love of history. He would often represent the state at the Detroit Highland Games. He would joke about not wearing a kilt because of his legs.

Many people saw his life as an inspiring story of overcoming challenges. By 1985, his good reputation was restored when he was appointed president of the Michigan Historical Commission.

Death and Honors

John Swainson passed away from a heart attack on May 13, 1994, at the age of 68. He is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Manchester, Michigan. His wife, Alice, passed away in 2004.

Throughout his life, Swainson was a member of many organizations. These included the American Legion, AMVETS, and the Boy Scouts of America. In the Boy Scouts, he was an active leader and served as secretary for the local Order of the Arrow lodge.

The Michigan Historical Commission created an award in his honor in 1996. It is called the Governor John B. Swainson Award. This award recognizes state, county, or city employees who help preserve Michigan's history. This is true even if it's not part of their main job. The award honors Swainson's love for history and his unique service in all three branches of state government: legislative, executive, and judicial.

His official portrait hangs in the Michigan State Capitol in the 'Hall of Governors'. It is known for looking unfinished, which some say suggests his political career was not yet complete.

See also

• List of U.S. state governors born outside the United States