William Swan Garvin (July 25, 1806 – February 20, 1883) was a western Pennsylvania newspaper proprietor who is most widely known for his term as a Jacksonian and Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early years

Garvin was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania. At 13, he became an apprentice for Mercer County's Western Press, a Democratic newspaper.

Career

After journeying as a newspaper printer, in 1830 he returned to the Western Press as its proprietor, a position he held off and on for the rest of his life.

Garvin was postmaster of Mercer from 1837 to 1841.

Garvin was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings during that session.

He also served as a flour inspector in Pittsburgh and was again appointed postmaster of Mercer in 1867 and served until 1869.

Garvin died on February 20, 1883, and was buried in Mercer Citizens’ Cemetery.

Sources

• White, John G. (1909). "Ch. XIV: The Press". A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 217–218.
• United States Congress. "William Swan Garvin (id: G000089)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• William Swan Garvin at The Political Graveyard