Swift, Henry Adoniram "H.A."

Lt. Governor Ignatius Donnelly resigned on March 3, 1863 to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Henry A. Swift subsequently served briefly as lieutenant governor until July 10, 1863, and then became governor when Governor Ramsey resigned to take a seat in the U.S. Senate. Though the Journal of the Senate notes Sen. Swift occasionally convening the senate in his capacity as president pro tem during the early parts of the 1863 session, the Journal states he was "duly elected" president pro tem on March 5, 1863. The Minnesota Historical Society lists his term as lieutenant governor beginning March 4, 1863. During the last few days of the legislative session (it ended on March 6, 1863) the Journal of the Senate records Sen. Swift voting on bills.

He was of English ancestry.

He came to St. Paul, Minnesota in 1853. He moved to St. Peter, Minnesota in 1856.

"Republican party leaders nominated Swift for Sibley County's state Senate seat, after another candidate refused the offer." (Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 2, 1993, p. 16)

He ran unsuccessfully on the Republican ticket for the United States Congress in 1857.

The St. Paul newspaper traditionally listed members who won the election with party affiliation (Democrat or Republican). In 1862 they only identified the Democrats, the assumption is that the rest were Republicans. Since he wasn't identified as a Democrat, the assumption is that he was a Republican. (St. Paul Pioneer and Democrat, January 7, 1862)

His grandfather, Dr. Isaac Swift, was a member of the Connecticut Legislature in 1772 and 1799.

Swift County, Minnesota was named after him.

He died from typhoid fever in St. Peter, Minnesota. He was buried in Ravenna, Ohio.