The Daniel referred to in this pub's name is Sir Daniel Gooch.  Swindon owes a great deal to Sir Daniel - it appears he was responsible for bringing the railway works to the then very small town, which brought expansion, jobs and prosperity to Swindon.  But more than this he pioneered the medical facilities in Swindon for workers of the Great Western Railway, even donating a thousand pounds to the medical centre (hospital).  Sir Daniel was a supervisor in the works, designed 340 locomotives and later became MP for Cricklade; he received his knighthood for his work on the first transatlantic cable laying project.

[Source of facts: 'The Swindon Book' by Mark Childs.]