Researching William Swan

Swan was born in Serampore, West Bengal, India in 1827. At the time, the area was part of Danish India. His elder brother Thomas was also born in Serampore but all younger siblings were born in Birmingham, England. His father, Thomas Swan (1795–1857), was a minister for a dissenting congregation in Birmingham. His mother was Elizabeth Swan (, 1799–1871). In England, Swan had produced a popular book used in National schools. In about 1862, he moved from Birmingham to New Zealand after his publisher had gone bankrupt. In Auckland, he was a clerk at W. J. Young & Co in Queen Street. When the gold rush on Coromandel Peninsula started in 1867, he relocated to what became Thames and was one of the leading citizens who took control of the development of the town.

Swan represented the Franklin electorate in the House of Representatives from to 1870, when he was defeated standing for the newly-formed Thames electorate.

Swan then represented the Thames electorate in the Auckland Provincial Council from 17 October 1872 until his death. He died in his lodgings at Symonds Street, Auckland on 15 March 1875 aged 47 years. He held strong political views that were often unpopular. As a consequence, none of the fellow provincial councillors attended his funeral at Symonds Street Cemetery. Swan's grave was relocated in the 1960s to make room for the Auckland Southern Motorway.

Swan was succeeded on the Provincial Council by William Davies, the mayor of Thames, who beat former Newton councillor William Rowe in a by-election on 5 April 1875.

Swan's first period in Siberia was relatively successful, working with Edward Stallybrass and, and preparing the Mongolian Bible. From Siberia he published Letters on Missions (1830) which the disappointed book reviewer of the Imperial Magazine found to be edifying, but totally lacking in any local colour from Siberia. In 1831 Swan returned to Britain for publication of the Mongolian Bible (New Testament printed) and to visit Great Britain and married Hannah Cullen. However, when the couple attempted to return to Siberia via Saint Petersburg, Swan was arrested and held until the end of 1833. The Russian government finally suppressed the Protestant Siberian mission in 1840 and expelled the Swans and others.