Born in Norwich, Connecticut Swan received an B.A.
He was in private practice of law in Chicago, Illinois from 1903 to 1916.
[1] Swan was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated by Judge Henry Wade Rogers.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 22, 1926, and served as Chief Judge and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1951 to 1953.
Swan died on July 13, 1975 at his home in New Haven, Connecticut at the age of 97.