George Bell Swift


George Bell Swift served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois for the Republican Party. He was selected to replace the assassinated Carter Harrison, Sr. as Mayor pro tem in 1893 and lost his re-election bid. He was re-elected when he ran in 1895.

Early life and career

Swift was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Samuel W. Swift and Elizabeth Swift. His family moved to Galena, Illinois when he was young. By his teenage years, the family was living in Chicago. Prior to serving as mayor of Chicago, Swift served two terms as an alderman. From 1887 to 1889, he was the city's Commissioner of Public Works.
Swift was a proponent of the City Beautiful movement.

Acting mayoralty

After the assassination of Carter Harrison Sr., the Chicago City Council selected Swift to serve as acting mayor.
Swift was sworn-in as acting mayor on November 9, 1893.
The following month, he lost the special election to fill the remainder of Harrison's term to Democrat John Patrick Hopkins. Hopkins took office as mayor on December 27, 1893, ending Swift's acting mayoralty.

Mayoralty

, Swift was elected mayor of Chicago, defeating Democratic nominee Frank Wenter by a broad margin.
Swift was sworn-in as mayor on April 8, 1895.
Swift declined to seek reelection in 1897, and was succeeded by Democrat Carter Harrison Jr. on April 15, 1897.