John Swinton (died 1723) facts for kids

Sir John Swinton of Swinton was an important Scottish politician from Swinton, Berwickshire. He was also known as John Swinton of that Ilk. He lived during a time of big changes in Scotland, including the joining of Scotland and England to form Great Britain.

Sir John Swinton's Life

Early Years and Family

Sir John Swinton was born before 1662. He was the second son of John Swinton, who owned land in Berwickshire. His mother was Margaret, the daughter of William Stewart, 2nd Lord Blantyre. Sir John's father was a Quaker (a type of Christian) and was active in politics during a period called the Protectorate. However, his father lost his lands when the king returned to power in 1660.

Unlike his father, the younger John Swinton remained a Presbyterian (another type of Christian). He became a successful merchant, trading goods in the Netherlands.

A Career in Politics and Business

In 1687, Sir John became the head of his family, Clan Swinton, after his older brother passed away. He returned to Scotland around the time of the Glorious Revolution in 1688, which was a major political change. His uncle, Lord Mersington, supported this revolution.

In 1689, Sir John was appointed a commissioner of supply for Berwickshire. This meant he helped manage taxes and resources in the area. The next year, he got his family's lands back. From 1690 until 1707, he served as a commissioner (a representative) for Berwickshire in the Parliament of Scotland.

In 1695, he became a director of the Company of Scotland and the Bank of Scotland. The Company of Scotland tried to set up a trading colony called the Darien Scheme in what is now Panama. This project failed badly, and Sir John lost a lot of money.

The Darien Scheme and Union

Sir John Swinton was one of the people who signed the Act of Union of 1707. This important agreement joined the Kingdom of Scotland with the Kingdom of England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Many people who had lost money in the Darien Scheme were paid back for their losses if they supported the Union. Sir John was one of these people.

Because of this, the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns later wrote a poem called "Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation". This poem criticized those who supported the Union, suggesting they were "rogues" for their actions.

Later Life and Legacy

Sir John was knighted (given the title "Sir") before September 1696. In 1707, he was made a burgess of Edinburgh, which gave him special rights in the city. After the Act of Union, he became one of the first Scottish representatives to the first Parliament of Great Britain. He also served as a commissioner of the Equivalent, helping to manage the money paid to Scotland as part of the Union agreement.

He did not run for Parliament in 1708 but continued his work on the Equivalent commission until it ended in 1719. In 1714, he supported the Hanoverian succession, which meant he supported the new royal family (the Hanovers) taking the British throne.

Sir John Swinton was married twice. His first marriage was in 1674 to Sarah Welch, and they had one daughter. Sarah passed away around 1690. He married again in 1698 to Anne Sinclair, the daughter of Sir Robert Sinclair, 1st Baronet, of Longformacus. With Anne, he had four sons and three daughters. Sir John Swinton passed away in 1723, and his eldest son, also named John, took over as head of the family.