Jewett was born in South Dover, New York.
[1] He studied painting at the New York Academy of Design, where he became an associate in 1845.
[2] He sold many paintings through the American Art-Union, and he exhibited his artwork at the Academy of Design in 1841–1851.
[2] Jewett moved to San Francisco, California in 1851, where he joined the Society of California Pioneers and he did many portraits of pioneers like him, including John Sutter.
[1] His son, William Dunbar Jewett, became a sculptor.