Francis Swaine

Who was Francis Swaine?

Francis Swaine was an English marine painter.

He was born in 1725, and christened on 7 October of that year at St Dunstan’s, Stepney, London. His parents were named Francis Swaine and Ann Joel. For many years, and in many reference books, it has been stated that as a young man he worked as an office messenger with the British Navy, but then left that employment to become an artist. However, in an item contained in The Catalogue of the National Archives, Navy Board: Out-letters ADM 354/151/167, it is stated that "Francis Swaine, Head Messenger to this Office, died yesterday. 1755, Oct 11." This Francis Swaine was the marine painter's father, born in 1691.

It was earlier thought that Francis Swaine the marine painter had been confused with another Francis Swain, who was christened on 22 June 1719 at St Botolph-without-Aldgate, London. However, it has recently been discovered that the man who served as a Navy Messenger until his death in 1755 was, in fact, the marine painter's father. It has also become clear that, as documented by his own words, March 5, 1734, this elder Francis Swaine had been involved with "little Labours in Drawing", and he also gave his occupation in the birth register of his youngest daughter in 1736 as "painter", although when registering the births of four previous children he had described himself as "gent". The archive document in question, ADM 106/875/84, records his application to become a Navy Messenger, and it states that he had served in the Navy in various capacities for "upwards of twenty-eight years". A marriage allegation dated 1714 documenting his intention to marry Ann Joel describes him as then a bachelor aged about 24 years. He is evidently the Francis Swaine whose baptism was registered on April 4, 1691, at St Bride's, Fleet Street, and he would have joined the Navy in about 1706, aged 14 or 15. What appears to be his will is recorded as an online document, PROB 11/824, and dated 1756. There is no evidence that Francis Swaine, the marine painter who began his gainful life as Peter Monamy's pupil, and was "his disciple and bred under him", ever worked as a messenger for the Navy Office.