Thomas Sewall

Thomas Sewall (April 16, 1786 – April 10, 1845) was an American physician, writer and academic. He gained notoriety for being convicted of body snatching, and later went on to become a professor. Early life Thomas Sewall was on April 16, 1786, in Hallowell, Maine. In August 1812, he graduated from Harvard Medical School and began practicing medicine. Career Sewall commenced his medical practice in Ipswich, Massachusetts. In 1819, he was arrested, charged, and found guilty of multiple counts of body snatching in Ipswich. Forced to leave the state, he moved to Washington, D.C. around 1820 to re-establish his career. In 1821, Sewall was appointed a professor of anatomy and physiology, as well as doctor at Columbian College (which later became George Washington University). In 1825, the college began its operations and he remained with the college until his death. In 1828, Sewall became a professor of religion and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1834, Sewall served as manager of the American Colonization Society. In May 1841, Sewall was appointed by President John Tyler as inspector of the Penitentiary in Washington, D.C.