Career
Shewan was born on 6 January 1848 in Rora, Aberdeenshire. His father died when he was four years old. He was apprenticed to a ship carpenter, and in 1869 he moved to New York City.
In New York he started a dry dock and ship repair business, first called Shewan and Palmer, later Shewan and Jenkins.
In 1877 Shewan bought out Jenkins and became the sole owner of the business. In 1870 Shewan married Ellen Curley.
Shewan died on 7 May 1914.
