Swinton, John (1724-1777)

Comments

WADHAM COLLEGE REGISTERS, II.3: Son of John Swinton of Bexton, Cheshire, gen.; Matric. Wadham College, Oxford, 10 Oct. 1719, aged 16; elected Scholar 1723; BA 1 Dec. 1723; MA 1 Dec. 1726; BD (Christ Church), 1759.
Goodridge Exhibitioner 1726, 1727 and probably till 1729.
Probationary Fellow 30 June 1729; elected Sub-Dean 1727, 1728; Dean 1729; Moderator of Philosophy 1730; Catechist 1731; Sub-Warden 1734; Humanity Lecturer 1735, 1736, 1737.
In July 1745 he migrated to Christ Church as MA. In 1767 he was elected Keeper of the University Archives, which office he held until 1777.
MI in Wadham Chapel: he d. 4 April 1777.

Whilst schoolmaster of Knutsford Free Grammar School Swinton became a corresponding member of the SPCK, having been recommended as 'a young gentleman every way qualified to answer their Expectations in a Member of their Body'.
In 1726 he collected £2/4/6 'towards the Arabick Impressions which he is ready to return when he shall receive the proper Directions', D. Robson, Some Aspects of Education in Cheshire in the Eighteenth Century, Chetham soc., 3 rd. ser. vol 13 (1966), 30 (citing SPCK Letter Books}.

SEE OXFORD DNB: Swinton, John (1703–1777), Church of England clergyman and orientalist, covers his career at Oxford and his later orientalist scholarship.

[There were two John Swintons, both of Wadham, six years apart, and both from the same part of Cheshire, perhaps cousins. Foster confused the careers of the two, and confusion may be difficult to avoid later in their careers, although the excellent Oxford DNB biography of the younger is of great help. However, they can be readily distinguished in the 1725 Chester register of orders].

Evidence