George Swinton
Encyclopedia
Captain George Sitwell Campbell Swinton, DL
(10 May 1859-17 January 1937) was a long serving Scottish
politician and officer of arms
.
Swinton was born in Edinburgh
, the second son of Archibald Campbell Swinton of Kimmerghame, Berwickshire, and Georgiana Caroline Sitwell, daughter of Sir George Sitwell, 2nd Baronet of Renishaw. In 1895 he married Elizabeth Ebsworth OBE
, daughter of E.H. Ebsworth of Gattonside. The couple had one son and two daughters. Elizabeth was an accomplished singer and performed professionally later in life.
He was gazetted to 71st Highland Light Infantry
in 1878 and retired in 1893. He was also an extra Aide-de-Camp
to the Marquess of Lansdowne
when he was Viceroy of India from 1888 to 1894. Swinton also studied art under Professor Herkomer and other masters.
Swinton was also the unsuccessful Conservative
candidate for Paisley
in 1900. He was a Member of London County Council
representing Holborn from 1901-1907 and Dulwich from 1922-28. He was Chairman of the Parks and Open Spaces Committee in 1904-1905, and Chief Whip of the Municipal Reform Party
(the Conservative group on the Council) from 1903-1912. He was an Alderman from 1907-1912, and 1920-1922. He became Chairman of the London County Council in 1912, but resigned on accepting the post of Chairman of the Town-planning Committee of the new Imperial City of Delhi
. He was attached by the Colonial Office to the Representatives of the Overseas Dominions attending the Imperial Conferences in 1917 and 1918; foreshadowed, in August 1917, the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle
; Honorary Secretary of the Scottish National War Memorial Committee, 1918.
Swinton also served as March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary
. He was Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary
from 1923 until 1926 and served Lord Lyon King of Arms
and Secretary to the Order of the Thistle
from 1927 until 1929.
Swinton is the grandfather of Major-General Sir John Swinton
and great-grandfather of actress Tilda Swinton
.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(10 May 1859-17 January 1937) was a long serving Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
politician and officer of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
.
Swinton was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the second son of Archibald Campbell Swinton of Kimmerghame, Berwickshire, and Georgiana Caroline Sitwell, daughter of Sir George Sitwell, 2nd Baronet of Renishaw. In 1895 he married Elizabeth Ebsworth OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, daughter of E.H. Ebsworth of Gattonside. The couple had one son and two daughters. Elizabeth was an accomplished singer and performed professionally later in life.
He was gazetted to 71st Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
in 1878 and retired in 1893. He was also an extra Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Marquess of Lansdowne
Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne
Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC was a British politician and Irish peer who served successively as the fifth Governor General of Canada, Viceroy of India, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs...
when he was Viceroy of India from 1888 to 1894. Swinton also studied art under Professor Herkomer and other masters.
Swinton was also the unsuccessful Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate for Paisley
Paisley (UK Parliament constituency)
Paisley was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1983, when it was divided into Paisley North and Paisley South...
in 1900. He was a Member of London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
representing Holborn from 1901-1907 and Dulwich from 1922-28. He was Chairman of the Parks and Open Spaces Committee in 1904-1905, and Chief Whip of the Municipal Reform Party
Municipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
(the Conservative group on the Council) from 1903-1912. He was an Alderman from 1907-1912, and 1920-1922. He became Chairman of the London County Council in 1912, but resigned on accepting the post of Chairman of the Town-planning Committee of the new Imperial City of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. He was attached by the Colonial Office to the Representatives of the Overseas Dominions attending the Imperial Conferences in 1917 and 1918; foreshadowed, in August 1917, the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
; Honorary Secretary of the Scottish National War Memorial Committee, 1918.
Swinton also served as March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary
March Pursuivant Extraordinary
March Pursuivant of Arms was a Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.The office was first mentioned in 1515 and it is associated with the part of the Border area that was known as the Marches, i.e...
. He was Albany Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Albany Herald
Albany Herald of Arms was a Scottish herald of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.The office was first mentioned in a diplomatic mission from Scotland to England in 1401. The office was probably instituted on the creation of Robert Stewart, son of King Robert II, as Duke of Albany, on 28 April 1398...
from 1923 until 1926 and served Lord Lyon King of Arms
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
and Secretary to the Order of the Thistle
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
from 1927 until 1929.
Swinton is the grandfather of Major-General Sir John Swinton
John Swinton (British Army officer)
Major-General Sir John Swinton, KCVO, OBE, DL was Major-General Commanding the Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District.-Family and military background:...
and great-grandfather of actress Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton
Katherine Mathilda "Tilda" Swinton is a British actress known for both arthouse and mainstream films. She has appeared in a number of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Burn After Reading, The Beach, We Need to Talk About Kevin and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her...
.