Swan, John

Ship's captain. In 1834 he was the captain of the cutter the Venus, owned by Sydney businessman John Mackie. Returning from the South Coast, he and the ship's crew were instrumental in the rescue of 17 survivors of the wreck of the Edward Lombe in Sydney Harbour. In late February 1836 Swan, the three crew members and six passengers, were all lost when the ship the Swan, owned by Swan and Mackie, foundered near Wollongong. Wreckage was found on Seven Mile Beach in late March, including a doghouse associated with the ship. Swan was described in the press as 'a young man of the most exemplary character'.