A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Swan, Oliver
SWAN. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 13; h-p., 31.)
Oliver Swan was born 2 June, 1792. His brother, David Swan, Master R.N. (1794), died in 1846.
This officer entered the Navy, 7 April, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Ardent 64, Capt. Robt. Winthrop, under whom he was for two years (half the time in the capacity of Midshipman) employed in the Channel, off Ferrol, in the Downs, off Boulogne, and in the North Sea. He then, in April, 1805, joined the Revenge 74, Capt. Robt. Moorsom, lying at Sheerness; and in the ensuing June he was again placed under the command of Capt. Winthrop in the Sybille 38. He twice in that ship carried despatches to the King of Prussia; after which he served on the coast of Ireland and in the Bay of Biscay, visited Madeira, and cruized among the Western Islands. While attached, from July, 1807, until Nov. 1809, to the Ganges 74, Capt. Peter. Halkett, he assisted, under the broad pendant of Commodore Rich. Goodwin Keats, at the taking of Copenhagen, made a voyage to Lisbon, and took part, under the flag of Rear-Admiral Wm. Albany Otway, in the attack upon Flushing. In the course of the month last mentioned he removed to the Horatio 38, Capts. Geo. Scott and John Chas. Woolcombe. In her he was for nearly 12 months engaged in affording protection to different convoys as far as Madeira, the Cape de Verde Islands, and St. Helena. He was subsequently, until presented, in March, 1815,[1] with a commission bearing date 11 of the previous Feb., employed on the Home and Mediterranean stations in the Aimable 32, Capt. J. C. Woolcomhe, Crescent 38, Capt. John Quilliam, Edinburgh 74, Capts. Robt. Rolles, Hon. Geo. Heneage Lawrence Dundas, and John Lampen Manley. His last appointment was, 19 May, 1815, to the Gladiator 44, in which ship, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Halkett at Portsmouth, he continued until the following Oct., performing the duties during that period of Signal-Lieutenant. He has since been on half-pay.
Lieut. Swan married, 27 Aug. 1817, Mary Newton, eldest daughter of Robt. Davidson, Esq., Solicitor, of Bishop Wearmouth, by whom he has issue a son and three daughters.
- ↑ He had passed his examination 6 Nov. 1811.