David Lowry Swain

Biography

David Lowry Swain, born in 1801, devoted his life to education and public service in North Carolina, leading the University of North Carolina as president for more than three decades while shaping it into a place where the liberal arts and civic virtue could flourish.

He had earlier served the people of the state as governor, and even after leaving Raleigh's executive office he remained a guiding presence for generations of students and scholars until his passing in 1868.