James Alexander Swettenham

Sir
Alexander Swettenham
KCMG
20th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue
In office
31 July 1891  10 June 1895
Preceded by George Thomas Michael O'Brien
Succeeded by William Thomas Taylor
15th Governor of British Guiana
In office
3 July 1901  26 September 1904
Preceded by Walter Joseph Sendall
Succeeded by Frederick Mitchell Hodgson
41st Governor of Jamaica
In office
30 September 1904  1907
Preceded by Augustus Hemming
Succeeded by Philip Clark Cork
Personal details
Born James Alexander Swettenham
1846
Belper, Derbyshire, England
Died 19 April 1933
La Colline, Switzerland
Resting place Vevey, Switzerland
Nationality English
Spouse(s) Mary Emily née Copeland
Alma mater Clare College, Cambridge
Occupation Colonial administrator

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). [1]

He was born the son of James Oldham Swettenham, an attorney-at-law, near Belper, Derbyshire and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. His younger brother was Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham, also a colonial administrator.

He 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.[2] He was awarded CMG in 1892. [3] In 1895 Swettenham moved to Singapore and served as the Colonial Secretary until 1899, becoming acting Governor that year until handing over to his brother Frank in November 1901. He was knighted KCMG in 1898.[4]

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.[5]

He died in a clinic in La Colline, Switzerland and was buried in Vevey. He had married Mary Emily Copeland, a descendant of the Staffordshire Wedgwood family. They had no children.

References

  1. Corfield, Justin. Historical Dictionary of Singapore. p. 257.
  2. "Former Auditor Generals". auditorgeneral.gov.lk. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  3. "No. 26291". The London Gazette. 25 May 1892. p. 3139.
  4. "No. 26969". The London Gazette. 21 May 1898. p. 3229.
  5. "Wives in the Shadow (2) - the other Ladies Swettenham". Retrieved 2 July 2017.
Legal offices
Preceded by
G. T. M. O'Brien
Accountant General and Controller of Revenue
1891–1895
Succeeded by
William Thomas Taylor
Preceded by
Walter Joseph Sendall
Governor of British Guiana
1901-1904
Succeeded by
Frederick Mitchell Hodgson
Preceded by
Augustus Hemming
Governor of Jamaica
1904-1907
Succeeded by
Philip Clark Cork
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