Arthur Sewall: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:46, 15 February 2025

American businessman and politician

Arthur Sewall[edit]

Arthur Sewall (November 25, 1835 – September 5, 1900) was an American businessman and politician from Maine. He was best known for being the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 1896 election, running alongside William Jennings Bryan.

Early Life and Career[edit]

Arthur Sewall was born in Bath, Maine, into a prominent shipbuilding family. The Sewall family had been involved in the shipbuilding industry for generations, and Arthur continued this tradition. He became a successful shipbuilder and businessman, contributing significantly to the maritime industry in Maine.

Business Ventures[edit]

Sewall was involved in various business ventures, primarily focusing on shipbuilding and railroads. He was a director of the Maine Central Railroad and played a significant role in the development of the Bath Iron Works, which became one of the most important shipyards in the United States.

Political Career[edit]

Although Sewall was primarily known for his business acumen, he was also active in politics. He was a member of the Democratic Party and served as a delegate to several Democratic National Conventions. In 1896, he was chosen as the vice-presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket with William Jennings Bryan.

1896 Vice Presidential Campaign[edit]

The 1896 presidential election was a pivotal moment in American politics, marked by the debate over the gold and silver standards. Sewall was selected as Bryan's running mate due to his business background and his support for the "free silver" movement, which aimed to increase the money supply by allowing the free coinage of silver.

Despite their efforts, the Bryan-Sewall ticket was defeated by the Republican candidates, William McKinley and Garret Hobart. The election was a significant turning point, highlighting the divide between agrarian and industrial interests in the United States.

Later Life and Legacy[edit]

After the 1896 election, Sewall returned to his business interests in Maine. He continued to be involved in shipbuilding and other ventures until his death in 1900. Sewall's contributions to the maritime industry and his brief foray into national politics left a lasting impact on his home state of Maine.

Related pages[edit]

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-'''Arthur Sewall''' (November 25, 1835 – September 5, 1900) was an American [[shipbuilder]], [[businessman]], and [[politician]] who is best known for being the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Vice President of the United States]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1896|1896 presidential election]]. Sewall's candidacy was part of a ticket with [[William Jennings Bryan]], which ultimately lost to [[William McKinley]] and [[Garret Hobart]].
+{{short description|American businessman and politician}}
+{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
-== Early Life and Education ==
+==Arthur Sewall==
-Arthur Sewall was born in [[Bath, Maine]], a prominent shipbuilding town. He was educated in the local schools of Bath and began his career in his family's shipbuilding business, Sewall & Co., which was established by his grandfather. This early exposure to shipbuilding would shape his future career and contributions to the industry.
+[[File:ArthurSewall.png|thumb|right|Arthur Sewall]]
+Arthur Sewall (November 25, 1835 – September 5, 1900) was an American businessman and politician from [[Maine]]. He was best known for being the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Vice President of the United States]] in the [[1896 United States presidential election|1896 election]], running alongside [[William Jennings Bryan]].
-== Career ==
+===Early Life and Career===
-Sewall expanded the family business, eventually becoming one of the most prominent shipbuilders in the United States. Under his leadership, the company specialized in the construction of large, steel-hulled ships, transitioning from the earlier wooden ships that had been the industry standard. His business acumen extended beyond shipbuilding; he was also involved in the railroad industry and banking, serving as the president of the Bath National Bank.
+Arthur Sewall was born in [[Bath, Maine]], into a prominent shipbuilding family. The Sewall family had been involved in the shipbuilding industry for generations, and Arthur continued this tradition. He became a successful shipbuilder and businessman, contributing significantly to the maritime industry in Maine.
-== Political Career ==
+===Business Ventures===
-Arthur Sewall's political career was closely tied to his business interests. He was a staunch supporter of the [[Democratic Party]], advocating for policies that favored the silver standard and opposed the gold-only standard, which was a major issue of the time. His views aligned closely with those of William Jennings Bryan, who was known for his "Cross of Gold" speech that criticized the gold standard.
+Sewall was involved in various business ventures, primarily focusing on shipbuilding and railroads. He was a director of the [[Maine Central Railroad]] and played a significant role in the development of the [[Bath Iron Works]], which became one of the most important shipyards in the United States.
-In 1896, Sewall was nominated as the vice presidential candidate alongside Bryan. The choice of Sewall was seen as a strategic move to balance the ticket with a businessman from the Northeast, complementing Bryan's populist and agrarian appeal in the Midwest and South. However, the campaign faced strong opposition from the pro-gold standard factions and the industrial and financial sectors.
+===Political Career===
+Although Sewall was primarily known for his business acumen, he was also active in politics. He was a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and served as a delegate to several Democratic National Conventions. In 1896, he was chosen as the vice-presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket with [[William Jennings Bryan]].
-== Personal Life and Legacy ==
+===1896 Vice Presidential Campaign===
-Arthur Sewall was married to Emma Duncan Crooker, and they had several children. His personal life was marked by his deep involvement in his community and his church.
+The 1896 presidential election was a pivotal moment in American politics, marked by the debate over the gold and silver standards. Sewall was selected as Bryan's running mate due to his business background and his support for the "free silver" movement, which aimed to increase the money supply by allowing the free coinage of silver.
-Sewall's legacy is somewhat mixed. While he was not successful in his bid for the vice presidency, his involvement in the 1896 election highlighted the deep economic and regional divisions within the United States at the time. Additionally, his contributions to the shipbuilding industry were significant, particularly in the transition to steel-hulled ships, which marked a new era in maritime history.
+Despite their efforts, the Bryan-Sewall ticket was defeated by the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidates, [[William McKinley]] and [[Garret Hobart]]. The election was a significant turning point, highlighting the divide between agrarian and industrial interests in the United States.
-Arthur Sewall died on September 5, 1900, in Bath, Maine. His contributions to both his local community and the broader American economic landscape are remembered in various historical accounts of the late 19th century.
+===Later Life and Legacy===
+After the 1896 election, Sewall returned to his business interests in Maine. He continued to be involved in shipbuilding and other ventures until his death in 1900. Sewall's contributions to the maritime industry and his brief foray into national politics left a lasting impact on his home state of Maine.
-== See Also ==
+==Related pages==
-* [[History of the United States (1865–1918)]]
+* [[William Jennings Bryan]]
-* [[Democratic Party (United States) history]]
+* [[1896 United States presidential election]]
-* [[Economic history of the United States]]
+* [[Democratic Party (United States)]]
+* [[Bath Iron Works]]
 [[Category:1835 births]]
 [[Category:1900 deaths]]
-[[Category:American shipbuilders]]
 [[Category:American businesspeople]]
+[[Category:People from Bath, Maine]]
 [[Category:Democratic Party (United States) vice presidential nominees]]
-[[Category:People from Bath, Maine]]
-{{US-politician-stub}}