William Joyce Sewell

Who was William Joyce Sewell?

William Joyce Sewell was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland immigrating 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 became a Union Army officer during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He was also a postbellum U.S. Senator from New Jersey. The community of Sewell, New Jersey is named for him.