Jewell was appointed an acting midshipman on November 29, 1861 when he entered the United States Naval Academy. His class of 1865 graduated early on November 22, 1864. He served on the Colorado, at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. and at the U.S. Naval Academy. During the Civil War while still at the Naval Academy, in the summer of 1863 when the nation's capital was threatened by General Robert E. Lee's forces, he was in command of a fleet of howitzers at the US Naval Yard for the defense of Washington, D.C.
Captain Theodore Jewell House in Washington, D.C.

Jewell was involved in peacekeeping activities from the Tuscarora in Seoul, Korea, Panama in 1872, and Hawaii in 1874, during the election of King Kalākaua, to negotiate the duty free exportation of sugar to the United States. A riot occurred on election day and marines and sailors from the Tuscarora and the USS Portsmouth landed to restore order

In 1879 he was executive officer of the frigate Constitution. From January 1893 to February 1896 he was superintendent of the Naval Gun Factory at the Washington Navy Yard.

Jewell served with Admiral Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay and later commanded the European squadron of the American Fleet in March 1904 when he was made a rear admiral. He retired in November 1904.

He was the son of Thomas and Eleanor (Spencer) Jewell, born in Washington D.C. on August 5, 1844. On June 15, 1871 he married Elizabeth Lindsay Poor, daughter of rear admiral Charles Henry Poor. They had one son Commander Charles T. Jewell.

Admiral Jewell died July 26, 1932 at his residence in Washington, D.C. and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
[edit] Dates of Rank

Midshipman: July 16, 1862
Ensign: November 1, 1866
Lieutenant: March 12, 1868
Lieutenant Commander: March 26, 1869
Commander: January 26, 1885
Captain: February 1, 1898
Rear Admiral: March 15, 1904