William Elbridge Sewell
| William Elbridge Sewell | |
|---|---|
| 6th Naval Governor of Guam | |
|
In office February 6, 1903 – January 11, 1904 |
|
| Preceded by | Seaton Schroeder |
| Succeeded by | Frank Herman Schofield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 16, 1851 |
| Died | March 18, 1904 (aged 52) |
| Nationality |
 United States
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1867–1904 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant Commander
|
| Commands | USS Alarm; Mare Island Observatory; USS Supply |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Santiago de Cuba |
William Elbridge Sewell (November 16, 1851 – March 18, 1904) was a United States Navy Lieutenant Commander, and the 6th Naval Governor of Guam from February 9, 1903 until being transported back to the mainland United States for medical treatment on January 11, 1904. He was born in Colchester, New York and appointed to the United States Naval Academy from that state in 1867. He did not become an Ensign immediately, but served on numerous ships before achieving the rank. He continued serving on a multitude of ships, eventually executive officer or commanding officer at a series of ships and installations. Eventually, he became commanding officer of the Guam flagship, and soon after, governor. As governor, he initiated a series of tax and legal reforms, including many that restored the rights of the native population to practice their culture more freely. He legalized and taxed alcohol and set up a court system that would last 30 years. In March 1904, he fell ill from intestinal troubles and was transported to California for treatment, where he died while still in office.
Sewell was born on November 16, 1851 in Colchester, New York. He married Minnie Moore on October 14, 1890 and had three daughters. His wife died in 1901 when their children were still young. While in Guam, Sewell became seriously ill with an intestinal disorder, and was brought to San Francisco, California for treatment aboard the USS Supply. He arrived in California on March 1, 1904 and died shortly after on March 18. His daughter Helen Sewell later became a famous children's book illustrator. Another of his daughters, Marjorie Sewell Cautley, became an acclaimed landscape architect.
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