professional photographer, chemist and actor, worked as a chemist in England and as a gold-digger in Australia before opening the Wellington Ambrotype Portrait Gallery at Wellington, New Zealand, in August 1857. In August 1858 he entered into a five-month partnership with W. Davis, a former competitor. By early 1859 Swan was advertising in Wanganui, where he photographed members of Mrs W.H. Foley’s touring theatrical company. He acted in many of the company’s productions and seems to have been romantically involved with the proprietor, who left him heartbroken when she set out for Australia with another favourite. By September 1860 Swan was occupying larger premises at Clay Point, Wellington. He later opened a branch office in Napier which he sold to Samuel Carnell in 1870.
It is not known whether Swan practised photography in Australia, but he may have trained in Melbourne and probably purchased his early photographic equipment there. He may be connected with H. Swan .
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
