Biography.guide
Home › People › Lawyer › David Sewall
Portrait of David Sewall

David Sewall

1735 – 1825

American lawyer and judge

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About David Sewall

Lived 1735 – 1825 (aged 90). David Sewall was an American lawyer, judge and politician.

David Sewall (October 7, 1735 – October 22, 1825) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine.

Education and career

Born on October 7, 1735, in York, in that area of the Province of Massachusetts Bay that would eventually become the State of Maine, British America, Sewall received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1755 from Harvard University and read law in 1760. He entered private practice in York (District of Maine, Massachusetts from October 25, 1780) starting in 1760. He was register of probate for York County, Maine starting in 1766. He was a Justice of the Peace in Maine starting in 1767. He was a member of the York Committee of Correspondence. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Massachusetts (now the Massachusetts Senate) from 1776 to 1777. He was a justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts (renamed the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 1780) from 1777 to 1789. He was a delegate to the Massachusetts constitutional convention from 1779 to 1780.

Federal judicial service

Sewall was nominated by President George Washington on September 24, 1789, to the United States District Court for the District of Maine, to a new seat authorized by . He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 26, 1789, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on January 9, 1818, due to his resignation. Sewall was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1814.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Harvard University, Harvard College, Read law
Awards
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

People in David Sewall's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped David Sewall's

Frequently asked questions

Who was David Sewall?

American lawyer and judge (1735-1825)

When was David Sewall born?

David Sewall was born on 7 October 1735 in York.

When did David Sewall die?

David Sewall died on 22 October 1825 in Maine, York, Maine.

What was David Sewall's occupation?

David Sewall was a lawyer, judge and politician.

What nationality was David Sewall?

David Sewall was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: David Sewall

· Wikidata: Q5239651

· DBpedia: David Sewall

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). David Sewall. https://biography.guide/david-sewall/

MLA: "David Sewall." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/david-sewall/.

Chicago: "David Sewall." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/david-sewall/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:29 UTC