Arthur Sewall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Sewall
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| President of the Maine Central Railroad | |
| In office 1884–1893 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | November 25, 1835 Bath, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 1900 (aged 64) Small Point, Maine, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Emma Duncan Crocker |
| Children | 2, including Harold |
| Parents |
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Arthur Sewall (born November 25, 1835 – died September 5, 1900) was an American businessman and politician from Maine. He was famous for building ships. He is best known for being the person chosen by the Democratic Party to run for Vice President of the United States in 1896. He ran alongside William Jennings Bryan.
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Life of Arthur Sewall
Arthur Sewall was born on November 25, 1835, in Bath, Maine. His parents were William and Rachel Sewall. In 1892, Arthur Sewall launched a ship called the Roanoke. At that time, it was the biggest wooden ship in the world.
Leading a Business
After his father passed away, Arthur and his brother took over their family's successful shipbuilding business. When his brother died in 1879, Arthur took full control of the company. He also served as the President of the Maine Central railroad from 1884 to 1893. On top of that, he was the President of the Bath National Bank.
Political Career
From 1888 to 1896, Arthur Sewall was a member of the Democratic National Committee. This group helps lead the Democratic Party. He tried to become a Senator for Maine but did not win against Eugene Hale. The only elected jobs Sewall held were as a councilman and an alderman in his hometown of Bath, Maine. These are local government roles.
In 1895, he supported a financial idea called "free silver." At the 1896 Democratic National Convention, he was chosen to be the Vice Presidential candidate. His selection was likely an effort to get votes from more traditional members of the party. Arthur Sewall was also a follower of Swedenborgianism. This is a religion based on the writings of a Swedish thinker named Emanuel Swedenborg.
Later Life and Death
Arthur Sewall ran with William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 election. His main opponent for Vice President was Garret Hobart. On September 5, 1900, Sewall died in Small Point, Maine. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath, Maine. When he died, he was a very wealthy man.
Arthur Sewall's Legacy
Arthur Sewall's grandson, Sumner Sewall, later became the Governor of Maine. He served from 1941 to 1945 as a Republican. In 2008, a newspaper called the St. Louis Post-Dispatch mentioned Arthur Sewall. They were talking about Senator John McCain's choice for Vice President in the 2008 election. The newspaper said that McCain had picked "the least qualified running mate since the Swedenborgian shipbuilder Arthur Sewall ran as William Jennings Bryan's No. 2 in 1896."
