Alexander Swettenham

Sir James Alexander Swettenham KCMG (1846 – 19 April 1933) was a British colonial administrator who was Governor of British Guiana (1901–1904) and Governor of Jamaica (1904–1907).[2]

Sir Alexander Swettenham

KCMG
Governor of Jamaica
In office
30 September 1904  1907
MonarchEdward VII
Preceded byAugustus Hemming
Succeeded bySydney Haldane Olivier
41st Governor of British Guiana
In office
3 July 1901[1]  26 September 1904
MonarchEdward VII
Preceded byWalter Joseph Sendall
Succeeded byFrederick Mitchell Hodgson
Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements
In office
7 December 1899  5 November 1901
MonarchQueen Victoria
Edward VII
Preceded bySir Charles Mitchell
Succeeded bySir Frank Swettenham
7th Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements
In office
11 February 1895  7 December 1899
MonarchQueen Victoria
GovernorCharles Mitchell
Preceded byWilliam Edward Maxwell
Succeeded byWalter Egerton (acting)
Charles Walter Sneyd Kynnersley (acting)
20th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue
In office
31 July 1891  10 June 1895
Preceded byGeorge Thomas Michael O'Brien
Succeeded byWilliam Thomas Taylor
Personal details
Born
James Alexander Swettenham

1846
Belper, Derbyshire, England
Died19 April 1933(1933-04-19) (aged 86–87)
La Colline, Switzerland
Resting placeVevey, Switzerland
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Mary Emily née Copeland
FatherJames Oldham Swettenham
Alma materClare College, Cambridge
OccupationColonial administrator

Early life

Alexander was born the son of James Oldham Swettenham, an attorney-at-law, near Belper, Derbyshire and educated at Clare College, Cambridge.

Family

Alexander’s younger brother, Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham, was also a colonial administrator.

Alexander married Mary Emily Copeland,[3] a descendant of the Staffordshire Wedgwood family. They had no children.

Career

Alexander joined the Ceylon Civil Service in 1868 and worked there until 1883, before being appointed Receiver-General for Cyprus in 1884, returning to Ceylon in 1891 where he was appointed the 20th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue in Sri Lanka. His appointment commenced on 31 July 1891, succeeding G. T. M. O'Brien, and he held the office until 10 June 1895, when he was succeeded by J. A. Taylor.[4] Alexander moved to Singapore on 11 February 1895[5] and served as the Colonial Secretary until 1899, becoming acting Governor that year, when Sir Charles Mitchell died in office, until handing over to his brother Frank in November 1901.

From 1901 to 1904 he served as Governor of British Guiana before moving to Jamaica to become Governor there. In 1907 there was a severe earthquake on the island and he was responsible for dealing with its aftermath. When a corps of American marines arrived under Rear-Admiral Charles H. Davis Jr to offer assistance he asked them to leave as he had matters under control. The Americans took offence and caused a diplomatic spat referred to as the Kingston Incident, as a result of which Swettenham was obliged to resign his position.[6]

Death

Alexander died in a clinic in La Colline, Switzerland and was buried in Vevey.

Honour

Alexander was awarded CMG in 1892[7] and was knighted KCMG in 1898.[8]

References

  1. "No. 27330". The London Gazette. 5 July 1901. p. 4470.
  2. Corfield, Justin. Historical Dictionary of Singapore. p. 257.
  3. "Sir Alexander Swettenham's Marriage". Eastern Daily Mail and Straits Morning Advertiser. 4 October 1905. p. 3.
  4. "Former Auditor Generals". auditorgeneral.gov.lk. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  5. "No. 10649". The Edinburgh Gazette. 15 February 1895. p. 185.
  6. "Wives in the Shadow (2) – the other Ladies Swettenham". Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  7. "No. 26291". The London Gazette. 25 May 1892. p. 3139.
  8. "No. 26969". The London Gazette. 21 May 1898. p. 3229.
  • Bosher, J.F. Imperial Vancouver Island: Who Was Who, 1850–1950. p. 712.
Legal offices
Preceded by
G. T. M. O'Brien
Accountant General and Controller of Revenue
1891–1895
Succeeded by
William Thomas Taylor
Government offices
Preceded by
William Edward Maxwell
Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements
1895–1899
Succeeded by
Walter Egerton
Charles Walter Sneyd Kynnersley

as acting Colonial Secretaries
Preceded by
Sir Charles Mitchell
as Governor
Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements
1899–1901
Succeeded by
Sir Frank Swettenham
as Governor
Preceded by
Walter Joseph Sendall
Governor of British Guiana
1901–1904
Succeeded by
Frederick Mitchell Hodgson
Preceded by
Hugh Clarence Bourne
Governor of Jamaica
1904–1907
Succeeded by
Hugh Clarence Bourne
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