Thomas Swann Politician

Thomas Swann (February 3, 1809 – July 24, 1883) was an American politician. Initially a Know-Nothing, and later a Democrat, he served as mayor of Baltimore (1856–1860), as the 33rd Governor of Maryland (1866–1869), and as U.S. Representative from Maryland's 3rd congressional district and then 4th congressional district (1869–1879).Along with John Pendleton Kennedy, Swann launched an ultimately successful referendum campaign in 1863 to end slavery in Maryland.The Emancipation Proclamation did not apply to Maryland because it was a non-Confederate state and President Lincoln feared that ending slavery there at the height of the Civil War would cause it to leave the Union. So it required a state level referendum in Maryland to end slavery. When slavery was abolished in Maryland in 1864, Lincoln's fears were not realized and the war finished out without Maryland ever defecting to the Confederate side, although many men from Southern Maryland did fight on the side of the confederacy.

Personal facts

Birth date	February 03, 1809
Birth place	Alexandria Virginia
Date of death	July 24, 1883
Place of death	Leesburg Virginia
Education	George Washington University
Profession	Politician