American ship-builder and public man; born in Bath, ME, on the 25th of November 1835. After a public-school education he entered his father’s shipyard in Bath, and at nineteen formed a partnership with his elder brother for the construction of wooden vessels. The firm was dissolved by the death of the senior partner in 1879, and the business carried on by Mr. Arthur Sewall and his sons. In their yard was built the largest wooden ship constructed in the United States, the Roanoke, 3,400 tons. A plant for the construction of steel vessels was added to the Bath equipment, and the Dirigo, the first steel ship built in America, launched from there. Mr. Sewall became interested in the Bath Iron Works, was chosen president of the Bath National Bank, a director of the Maine Central railroad, and in 1893–94 its president. He was an influential man in the Democratic councils of the State of Maine, and in 1888 was made member of the Democratic National Committee. In 1895 he announced himself a believer in the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, and in the Democratic National Convention which met in Chicago in 1896 was nominated Vice-President. His nomination was opposed by the Western and more radical element of the party, and the Populist Convention soon after refused to indorse his nomination, while accepting William J. Bryan, his associate on the Chicago ticket. In the November elections following, this ticket was defeated.
