John Swinton (died 1679) facts for kids

John Swinton (born around 1621, died 1679) was a Scottish politician. He was active during a time of big changes in Scotland, including the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and the period known as the Interregnum, when Scotland was ruled by England. After the king returned during the Restoration, John Swinton was found guilty of treason and spent some years in prison. Later in his life, he became a Quaker, a member of a religious group known for its peaceful beliefs.

Early Life and Education

John Swinton was born around 1621. He was the oldest son of Sir Alexander Swinton, who was an important figure in Berwickshire. His mother was Margaret Home.

John's father, Sir Alexander Swinton, was the sheriff of Berwickshire in 1640 and a Member of Parliament for the county. He passed away in 1652. John also had a younger brother named Alexander Swinton (who lived from about 1625 to 1700). John Swinton received a very good education for his time, and he especially focused on studying law.

Scotland's Wars and Changes

In 1646 and 1647, John Swinton was part of the war committee for Berwickshire, working alongside his father.

In 1649, Swinton became a Member of Parliament for The Merse. In this role, he disagreed with sending a group to meet with King Charles II in Breda. John Swinton's political ideas were strongly connected to his religious beliefs. The next year, he was against quickly raising an army to fight Oliver Cromwell's invasion of Scotland. He believed they should first remove any soldiers who had signed the Engagement or seemed to have selfish reasons for fighting.

In February 1649, Swinton was made a lieutenant-colonel and given command of a cavalry (horse-riding soldiers) troop. After the Battle of Dunbar, he sided with the "Remonstraters," a group who wanted stricter religious rules. After the defeat of the Western Association at the Battle of Hamilton, he joined Oliver Cromwell's English army. Because he switched sides, the Scottish parliament in Perth sentenced him to death and took away his lands on January 30, 1651. He was also removed from the church.

Swinton was present at the Battle of Worcester on September 3, 1651. However, he did not fight in this battle. Two of his brothers fought on the Scottish side, and his younger brother, Robert, died trying to capture Cromwell's flag.

Working with Oliver Cromwell

Cromwell's victory at Worcester gave him control over the Scottish government, and he began to change how things were run. According to Bishop Gilbert Burnet, Swinton was "the man of all Scotland most trusted and employed by Cromwell." In May 1652, he was appointed a commissioner to oversee justice in Scotland. His colleagues included important Scottish and English figures.

The next year, he was one of five Scottish commissioners chosen to discuss Scotland joining with England. In 1655, he became a member of the council of state for Scotland, which helped govern the country. He also served as a Scottish representative in the English parliaments under Oliver and Richard Cromwell. He regularly worked on committees dealing with Scottish affairs and other English matters.

The English government looked after Swinton's personal interests because of his service. On November 4, 1656, his earlier sentence from the Scottish parliament, which had taken away his lands, was cancelled. He also received some of the Earl of Lauderdale's lands that had been taken by the government.

Return of the Monarchy

When the monarchy was brought back under King Charles II, John Swinton's luck changed. On July 20, 1660, he was arrested in London at the home of a Quaker. He was sent to Leith on a ship called HMS Eagle along with the Marquess of Argyll. He was then held in the Tolbooth prison in Edinburgh.

In early 1661, he was put on trial for high treason. He was found guilty and sentenced to lose his lands and be imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. He stayed in prison for several years. After his release, he traveled around Scotland. In 1657, he had become a Quaker, and he followed their beliefs with the same strong passion he once had for the Covenanter cause. He was arrested several times with other Quakers but was always released. He passed away in Borthwick in early 1679.

His Writings and Family

John Swinton wrote several pamphlets about his Quaker beliefs. Some of these include:

• A Testimony for the Lord by John Swinton
• Some late Epistles to the Body, writ from Time to Time as the Spirit gave Utterance, 1663
• One Warning more to the Hypocrites of this Generation, 1663
• To all the Friends to Truth in the Nations
• Words in Season, 1663
• Heaven, Earth, Sea, and Dry Land, hear the Word of the Lord, 1664
• To my Kinsmen, my Relations, mine Acquaintance after the Flesh, 1666
• Innocency further cleared, 1673

Many of these writings and other papers can be found in the Library of the Religious Society of Friends in London.

John Swinton married twice. His first wife was Margaret Stewart, whom he married in 1645. She was the daughter of William Stewart, 2nd Lord Blantyre. Margaret passed away in 1662. They had three sons: Alexander, John, and Isaac, and one daughter named Margaret. Swinton's second wife was Frances White, a widow. They did not have any children.