Charles Sheriton Swan
Charles Sheriton Swan (1871-1945) of Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson
1945 Obituary [1]
BY the death of Sir Charles Sheriden Swan, which occurred on Saturday, December 30th, at the age of seventy-four, the Tyne has lost an outstanding figure in the shipbuilding and marine engineering industry. The name of Swan has been well known on the river for two generations, for the father of Sir Charles was connected with a shipbuilding business founded at Walker in 1852.
Sir Charles began his long career as an apprentice with the Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Company, Ltd., and after four years in the engine works he served a further apprenticeship in the shipyard of C. S. Swan and Hunter.
After returning for a short time to the drawing-office of the engineering works, he decided to gain sea experience, after which he joined the firm of C. S. Swan and Hunter and was one of its leading directors when it was converted into a limited liability company and when, at a later date, the business was merged with that of W. Richardson and Co., Ltd., to form the firm with the present title of Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Ltd.
For many years Mr. Swan had attended the shipyard and engine works and had shared the responsibility of designing and building every kind of naval and mercantile vessel and many different pat terns of floating dry docks.
In 1931 he was made vice-chairman of the company and in 1938 he became its chairman. For many years he was a director of the associated Clyde firm of Barclay, Curle and Co., Ltd., and recently he became its chairman.
In 1935 he was elected the President of the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation. A year ago his long services to the industry were recognised by the bestowal of a knighthood.