William Lewis

Background

William Lewis, of Quaker stock, was the son of Josiah Lewis and his wife, who was probably Martha Allen. He was born on February 2, 1751, on his father's farm near Edgemont, Chester (now Delaware) County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Education

He attended a country school near his home and afterwards entered a seminary established by the Society of Friends at Willistown, Pennsylvania, where he made rapid progress. Although from early boyhood he wished to become a lawyer and was supported in this ambition by his father, his mother did not give her consent to the plan until his seventeenth year. He was then placed in the Friends' Public School in Philadelphia to receive instruction in Latin.

Career

In 1770 he commenced the study of law under Nicholas Waln of West Chester and Philadelphia. He was admitted to the bar in November 1773 and again in 1776, after the adoption of the state constitution. One of the most famous treason cases with which he was connected was that of the Northampton Insurgents in 1799, when he was one of the counsel for John Fries, a defendant. In this case his client was pronounced guilty and sentenced to death, but was later pardoned by President Adams. He was elected a member of the Pennsylvania legislature in 1787 and again in 1789, when he was also chosen a member of the state constitutional convention. On October 6, 1789, he was appointed attorney of the United States for the district of Pennsylvania and on July 20, 1791, accepted appointment as judge of the federal district court for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, in which capacity he served until April 11, 1792.

He then returned to his more lucrative private practice, which he continued until two years before his death. In February 1794 he was employed as counsel by the petitioners against the election of Albert Gallatin to the United States Senate. In this capacity he addressed that body in the Senate chamber, the first time professional counsel had spoken from the Senate floor. In politics he was frequently consulted on legal matters by government officials. He died in Philadelphia after a short illness.

Achievements

• Lewis was one of the leading Quaker lawyers of Pennsylvania. He attracted especial attention by his success as counsel for the defense in many of the treason cases which arose in Philadelphia during the Revolution and afterward. He was credited with having been instrumental in securing the passage of the act of March 1, 1780, "for the gradual abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania. " He was also noted for advising Alexander Hamilton on the first national bank and building the Historic Strawberry Mansion in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park in 1789.

Politics

In politics he was a thorough Federalist. He was also much interested in the abolition of slavery within the state of Pennsylvania.

Personality

Lewis sometimes procrastinated in preparing his cases, and then made use of many ingenious devices for gaining time. His annoying habit of studying his case while it was in progress and introducing new points when he had the closing argument led the court to make a general rule prohibiting new points by concluding counsel.

Connections

Lewis was twice married: first to Rosanna Lort by whom he had three children, and second to Frances Durdin.

Father:

Josiah Lewis

Mother:

Martha Allen

Spouse:

Rosanna Lort

Spouse:

Frances Durdin

References

• The Leaders of the Old Bar of Philadelphia
• Martin's Bench and Bar of Philadelphia
• Philadelphia - A History of the City and its People