Francis Swanton (c.1605 – 1661) was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1661.
He was Clerk of assize for the Western circuit from 1637 to 1656, J.P. for Wiltshire from about 1641 until his death and J.P. for Somerset from 1648 to 1657.
His small estate was sequestrated because he had acted as clerk of assize under the Royalists during the Civil War but he managed to convincedthe sequestrators that he had acted under force majeure and was not only excused the fine but also allowed to continue in post.
[1] Swanton died at the age of about 56 in 1661 for on 20 November 1661 his post as Clerk of Assize was vacant.
He married secondly by licence dated 3 July 1661 Philippa Phillipps, widow of James Phillipps, pewterer, of St. Magnus Corner, New Fish Street, London and daughter of William Povey, dyer of All Hallows the Less, London.