Claude A. Swanson

Claude Augustus Swanson (March 31, 1862 – July 7, 1939) was an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician from Virginia.

He served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1893 until 1906, was the 45th Governor of Virginia from 1906 until 1910, and represented Virginia as a United States Senator from 1910 until 1933. Swanson lived most of his life at his estate Eldon in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, built by the Whittle family for whom Chatham's Whittle Street is named.

He was Secretary of the Navy under Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 until his death at age 77.

1892
Swanson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 53.91% of the vote, defeating Populist Benjamin T. Jones.

1894
Swanson was re-elected with 52.34% of the vote, defeating Republican G.W.Cornett, Independent G.W. Hale, and Populist W.T. Shelton.

1896
Swanson was re-elected with 50.98% of the vote, defeating Republican John Robert Brown.

1898
Swanson was re-elected with 57.02% of the vote, defeating Republican Edmund Parr, Populist R.A. Bennett, Independent Republican R.O. Martin, and Independent C.T. Seay

1900
Swanson was re-elected with 58.14% of the vote, defeating Republican John R. Whitehead.

1902
Swanson was re-elected with 60.8% of the vote, defeating Republican Beverly A. Davis and Populist Dan Dickerson.

1904
Swanson was re-elected with 64.98% of the vote, defeating Republican J.B. Stovall.

1905
Swanson was elected Governor of Virginia with 64.51% of the vote, defeating Republican Lewis L. Lunsford and Socialist Labor B.D. Downey.

Memorials
The Swanson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia is named for him.