Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Swanzy, Francis Mills February 4, 1850 - February 26, 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/hi/hifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: J. Orr orr@hawaii.com October 8, 2009, 2:07 pm Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. Published by The Honolulu Star Bulletin, Territory of Hawaii 1925 Author: Edited by George F. Nellist FRANCIS MILLS SWANZY, Industrial Builder. A leader in the great sugar industry of Hawaii and one of the outstanding men in the development of various mercantile industries was the late Francis Mills Swanzy, for years managing director of Theo H. Davies & Co., and president of many of the largest corporations in the islands. Mr. Swanzy was known for his executive ability, and from the time of his entry into Honolulu business life he made his zeal and efficiency tell in every project to which he turned his attention. Keen business judgment and foresight were his and through the force of his own personal contact he was enabled always to bring success to the big undertakings in which he was engaged. Francis M. Swanzy came to Honolulu in 1880, when he was 30 years old, full of youthful enthusiasm for the work to be accomplished in his adopted home and well trained in business lines through his previous connection with several of the leading firms of Manchester and Liverpool, England. He was a native of Dublin, Ireland, born there on Feb. 4, 1850, the son of John Swanzy and Margaret Francis (Mills) Swanzy. He was educated at Portora School in Enniskillen and at Science College, Dublin. Immediately upon his arrival in Hawaii, he entered the employ of Theo H. Davies & Co., and very early in his career was interested in the Honolulu Iron Works. His rise to a high position in both firms was rapid and his other commercial and industrial interests grew apace. Tireless in his professional zeal, he was always able to take on additional business burdens and carry them to success. Just ten years after his arrival here he became a partner in Theo H. Davies & Co., and when the firm was incorporated in 1894 he was named a director. At the time of the death of Theo H. Davies in 1898 Mr. Swanzy succeeded to the managing directorship, a position he held until his death, Feb. 26, 1917. He was elected president of the Honolulu Iron Works Co. in 1904, and in the next dozen years assumed the presidency of the Waiakea Mill Co., Sugar Factors Co., Laupahoehoe Sugar Co., Kaiwiki Sugar Co., Ltd., Kukaiau Plantation Co., Ltd., Hamakua Mill Co., Kaeleku Sugar Co., Ltd., Pappaloa Agricultural Co., Ltd., Paauilo Agricultural Co., Ltd., Pearl City Fruit Co., Ltd., and Waianae Lime Co. He was president of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association for two terms, and for many years was an officer and trustee of that organization and of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Mr. Swanzy found time for social affiliations, and served as president of the Pacific Club and other men’s groups. In 1887 he married Miss Julie Judd, daughter of the late Colonel Charles Hastings Judd, former chamberlain to King Kalakaua. In 1917, their elder daughter, Nora Hastings, married Mr. George Young Bennett, assistant manager of the Hilo Sugar Co., and in 1918, Rosamond Swanzy married Mr. James Placidus Morgan, of Theo H. Davies & Co., Ltd. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/statewide/bios/swanzy62bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/hifiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb