Joseph Sewall

Who was Joseph Sewall?

Joseph Sewall was an American politician and businessperson. He served four terms as President of the Maine Senate, which made him the longest serving President in Maine history.

Sewall was born in Old Town, Maine, son of James Wingate Sewall and Louise Gray Sewall in the home that his great grandfather and Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, George P. Sewall, built between c.1835 and 1851. His maternal grandfather, George Gray, founded Old Town Canoe Company. He attended local schools and Bowdoin College. He was also President of James W. Sewall Co., an international forest engineering firm in Old Town, where he had also been a City Councillor and Mayor. Sewall served as President of the Maine Senate from 1975 to 1982. He was defeated in 1982 by Democrat Michael Pearson. Upon leaving the legislature, Sewall was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Maine Maritime Academy by Governor Brennan. Soon after his appointment, he was elected Chairman, a post he held for 20 years. He was also appointed by President George H.W. Bush to be a U.S.