Samuel Swift facts for kids

Samuel Swift (born around 1659 – died 8 February 1718) was an English politician. He was a member of the Tory party, which was one of the main political groups in England at the time. Swift served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the city of Worcester from 1693 to 1694, and again from 1695 until his death in 1718.

Early Life and Family

Samuel Swift was the son of William Swift, who was a merchant in Worcester. His mother's name was Martha Beauchamp.

On 25 November 1679, Samuel Swift married Sarah Shrewing. She was the daughter of Thomas Shrewing, who also lived in Worcester.

Swift's Political Journey

Swift started his political career in Worcester, holding several important local jobs. He was part of the city council starting in 1677. He also served as the Chamberlain from 1678 to 1679, which was a financial role.

Later, he became the Sheriff of Worcester from 1683 to 1684. He was also elected Mayor of Worcester twice: first from 1684 to 1685, and again for a short period in 1688. In 1689, he became an alderman, another important city official. Before becoming an MP, he was the High Sheriff of Worcestershire from 1692 to 1693.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1693, a special election was held in Worcester. This happened because Sir John Somers, who was the MP for Worcester, left his position to take on a new job as the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.

The election was a tough contest between Samuel Swift, a Tory, and Charles Cocks, who belonged to the Whig party. Cocks was also Sir John Somers's brother-in-law. Swift won the election with 682 votes, while Cocks received 575 votes.

However, Charles Cocks complained to the House of Commons, saying that there were unfair voting practices. On 7 February 1694, the House of Commons agreed with Cocks. This meant that Swift lost his seat as MP, which made many people in Worcester very upset.

Returning to Parliament

In the next general election in 1695, Charles Cocks decided to run for a different area called Droitwich. This allowed Samuel Swift to be elected again as the MP for Worcester. He continued to hold this position until he passed away.

Facing Accusations

Between 1696 and 1697, there was an investigation into the Royal Mint, which was where coins were made. During this time, Samuel Swift was accused of being involved in "coin clipping." This was a serious crime where people would shave off small pieces of metal from coins to keep the valuable metal for themselves.

However, the House of Commons looked into these accusations. On 8 April 1697, they voted that the claims against Swift were "groundless and frivolous," meaning they were not true and had no real basis.

Later Life and Death

Samuel Swift continued to serve as an MP for Worcester until his death on 8 February 1718.