Amrose Swott

"Ora et Labora."

- Professor Swott's motto, inscribed on his portrait.

Professor Amrose Swott (d. 1724) was a wizard. He was once a Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Lifetime
Professor Swott lived in the early 18th century. He became the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at some point.

Post-mortem
Professor Swott died in 1724. Two portraits of him hung at Hogwarts: one depicted a bespectacled young man, and another, hung in the Headmaster's office, depicted an older wizard with a long ginger beard. Swott's name was also carved into a wood panel on the wall of the school's Divination classroom.

In the winter of 1993, Swott's name appeared on the Marauder's Map, presumably indicating that he lingered at Hogwarts as a ghost after his death, or that there is a student named after him.

Etymology
"Ambrose" is a name, which ultimately derives from the Greek name Ambrosios, meaning "immortal". Swott may have been based on swot, a British slang term, meaning "to study hard" or "one who studies hard."

Behind the scenes

 * It is possible that Swott's portrait is a reference to a portrait of Johannes Kepler, a German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer.
 * The motto inscribed on Swott's portrait, "Ora et Labora" (meaning "Pray and Work") was the motto of the Benedictine monks.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)