Joseph G. Swift correspondence 1809-1862 1820s-1850s

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Joseph G. Swift correspondence 1809-1862 1820s-1850s

http://archives.nypl.org/mss/2935

Joseph Gardner Swift (1783-1865) was a civil engineer and officer in the U.S. Army. He was one of two students of the first graduating class in 1802 of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. By the age of twenty-eight he was a colonel and Chief Engineer of the Army. His projects included the completion of Fort Clinton (New York City) and during the War of 1812 the fortifications of western Long Island harbors and New York City. He resigned his commission in 1818 and served as Surveyor of the Port of New York until 1826, then as chief engineer for several railroads, and in 1829 he directed harbor improvements on the Great Lakes. Swift also was involved in a variety of business activities and was a friend and mentor to younger engineers including George Washington Whistler and William Gibbs McNeill (both of them were his brothers-in-law). Collection consists entirely of correspondence of Swift and members of his family. Most of the letters, 1825-1857, were written to Swift from his brother, William Henry Swift, and from his brother-in-law, George Washington Whistler. Whistler's letters include several written from Russia while he was working on construction of the Moscow/St. Petersburg railroad. Also, correspondence of Swift and Whistler, 1809-1862, with various correspondents, and letters exchanged among members of the Swift, Whistler and McNeill families.

.3 linear foot (1 box); 1 microfilm reel

New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6312927

New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division

Related Entities

There are 8 Entities related to this resource.

Kemble, Gouverneur, 1786-1875

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f76wkx (person)

Politician and businessman Gouverneur Kemble was born in New York City and educated at Columbia. He became a businessman, founding America's first quality cannon factory, and was appointed consul of Cadiz by President Monroe, spending much time in the Mediterranean. He served two terms in Congress as a Democrat, declining the nomination for a third term. He remained active in national party politics, and continued to have interest in businesses, including railroads. He was a friend of Washington...

Whistler, Anna Mathilda McNeill, 1804-1881

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6q253qk (person)

Swift, J. G. (Joseph Gardner), 1783-1865

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j397nn (person)

Joseph Gardner Swift (1783-1865) was a civil engineer and officer in the U.S. Army. He was one of two students of the first graduating class in 1802 of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. By the age of twenty-eight he was a colonel and Chief Engineer of the Army. His projects included the completion of Fort Clinton (New York City) and during the War of 1812 the fortifications of western Long Island harbors and New York City. He resigned his commission in 1818 and served as Surveyor of the P...

Swift family

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cd5xh5 (family)

Whistler, George W. (George Washington), 1800-1849

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ks8d6q (person)

Engineer and army officer. Father of artist James McNeill Whistler. From the description of George W. Whistler correspondence, 1842 September 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70981348 ...

Whisler family

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cq21n5 (family)

Swift, W. H. (William Henry), 1800-1879

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qr83vd (person)

McNeil family

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6266fwt (family)