SWANTON, Thomas (d.1723), of London.

During the war of the Spanish succession Swanton served under Sir Clowdisley Shovell, M.P., in the Mediterranean.Charnock, Biog. Navalis, iii. 111. Appointed commissioner of the navy on George I’s accession, he stood unsuccessfully for Saltash at a by-election in December 1718, but carried his election in 1722 on the Admiralty interest, which he managed.Thos. Coram to Sir Chas. Wager, 3 Oct. 1723, copy in Buller mss at Antony. He died shortly afterwards, 18 Jan. 1723, leaving £8,000 in South Sea stock to be shared by his children,PCC 18 Richmond. two of whom entered the Royal Navy, Thomas, who was a captain in 1741, and Robert, who became an admiral in 1762.