William Francis Gray Swann

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William Francis Gray Swann (1884–1962) was an Anglo-American physicist. He was educated at Brighton Technical College, the Royal College of Science, University College London, King's College London and the City Guilds of London Institute.

In 1913 he went to the United States and joined the Carnegie Institute, becoming head of the Physical Division of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. He later became a professor at the University of Minnesota, then at the University of Chicago and Yale University.

In 1927 at the age of 43, he became the director of the Bartol Research Foundation of the Franklin Institute in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. He continued in this capacity until his retirement.

He is particularly noted for his research into cosmic rays and high-energy physics. He produced over 250 publications, including The Architecture of the Universe in 1934.

In addition to being a physicist, he was also known as an accomplished cellist and he founded the Swarthmore Symphony Orchestra. He retired in 1959, and died in 1962 in Swarthmore.

The crater Swann on the Moon is named after him.