ashwell was born in jersey city, new jersey in 1916. after high school, he went to college to further his education. he attended the university of illinois, where he earned his b.a.in 1938 and m.s. in 1941. he then went to columbia university in new york, which was closer to his hometown, to spend two years doing research. in 1950, ashwell joined the national institute of arthirtis, metabolism, and digestive diseases. this institute had grown and later split into two institutes, which are the national institute of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases and the national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases. ashwell worked at the latter as an emeritus scientist after his retirement.