George Sewell (controversialist)

George Sewell (died 1726) was an English physician and poet, known as a controversialist and hack-writer.

Born at Windsor, was the eldest son of John Sewell, treasurer and chapter-clerk to the dean and canons of Windsor. He was educated at Eton College: his poem of The Favorite, a simile embodies reminiscences of his Eton life. He then went to Peterhouse, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. in 1709; for a time he studied medicine under Hermann Boerhaave at the university of Leyden, and about July 1725 he took the degree of M.D. at Edinburgh.

Sewell practised at first in London, but little success. He then moved to Hampstead, but encountered competition from other physicians. Under financial pressure he became a booksellers' hack, publishing numerous poems, translations, and political and other pamphlets.

Sewell died of consumption at Hampstead, in poverty, on 8 February 1726. On 12 February he was given a pauper's funeral.

In early life Sewell inclined to Toryism, and was a bitter critic of Gilbert Burnet, whom he attacked in five pamphlets (1713–1715). His animosity extended to the bishop's son, Thomas Burnet (1694–1753), and he brought out anonymously in 1715 a satirical True Account of the Life and Writings of Thomas Burnet. Sewell also wrote in the Tory interest Remarks upon a Pamphlet intituled [Observations upon the State of the Nation] (anon.) 1713 (3rd edit., 1714); and Schism destructive of the Government: a Defense of the Bill for preventing the Growth of Schism; 2nd edit. 1714, in which he answered the arguments of Sir Richard Steele.

Afterwards Sewell attached himself to Sir Robert Walpole, and issued The Resigners vindicated: by a Gentleman, 1718. It went through four editions in that year, and was succeeded by The Resigners, Part ii. and last, 1718.

Sewell's best-known literary work was his Tragedy of Sir Walter Raleigh, as it is acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields, 1719; 5th edit. with a new scene (and prefatory verses from Amhurst and others), 1722; 6th edit. 1745. The author traded on the national hatred of Spain. James Quin played the part of the hero in this piece, which was produced on 16 January 1719, and was often repeated. It was revived for one night at Drury Lane, 14 December 1789.

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