William J. Sewell

William J. Sewell
Medal of Honor recipient
United States Senator from New Jersey
In office March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1887
Preceded by	Theodore F. Randolph
Succeeded by	Rufus Blodgett
In office March 4, 1895 – December 27, 1901
Preceded by	John R. McPherson
Succeeded by	John F. Dryden
President of the New Jersey Senate
In office 1876
Preceded by	John W. Taylor
Succeeded by	Leon Abbett
In office 1879–1880
Preceded by	George C. Ludlow
Succeeded by	Garret Hobart
Member of the New Jersey Senate from Camden County
In office 1872 – March 4, 1881
Preceded by	Edward Bettle
Succeeded by	Albert Merritt
Personal details
Born	(1835-12-06)December 6, 1835 Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland
Died	December 27, 1901(1901-12-27) (aged 66) Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting place	Harleigh Cemetery Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Awards	Medal of Honor
Military service
Allegiance	United States Union
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Colonel Brevet Major General
Commands	5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War *Battle of Chancellorsville (WIA) *Battle of Gettysburg (WIA)

William Joyce Sewell (December 6, 1835 – December 27, 1901) was an American Republican Party politician, merchant, and military officer who served as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey for two non-consecutive terms from 1881 to 1887 and 1895 until his death in 1901.

Sewell was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in 1851 where he worked in the merchant industry in Chicago, Illinois, before moving to Camden, New Jersey, in 1860. He served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He was also a Reconstruction Era state senator and U.S. Senator. The community of Sewell, New Jersey, is named for him.^[1]