serviceyears branch commands death_date predecessor successor allegiance nationality office battles birth_date order term_start rank article_title term_end name
1867-1904 30px united states navy seal united states navy uss uss '' supply '' '' alarm '' ; mare island observatory ; 18 march 1904 seaton schroeder frank herman schofield united states united states naval governor of guam battle of santiago de cuba november 16 , 1851 6th february 6 , 1903 20px lieutenant commander william elbridge sewell
 january 11 , 1904 william elbridge sewell
william elbridge sewell

william elbridge sewell -lrb- november 16 , 1851 -- march 18 , 1904 -rrb- was a united states navy lieutenant commander , and the 6th naval governor of guam from february 9 , 1903 until being transported back to the mainland united states for medical treatment on january 11 , 1904 .
he was born in colchester , new york and appointed to the united states naval academy from that state in 1867 .
he did not become an ensign immediately , but served on numerous ships before achieving the rank .
he continued serving on a multitude of ships , eventually executive officer or commanding officer at a series of ships and installations .
eventually , he became commanding officer of the guam flagship , and soon after , governor .
as governor , he initiated a series of tax and legal reforms , including many that restored the rights of the native population to practice their culture more freely .
he legalized and taxed alcohol and set up a court system that would last 30 years .
in march 1904 , he fell ill from intestinal troubles and was transported to california for treatment , where he died while still in office .
