![Portrait of Sir Watkin Lewes (4671600) (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Portrait_of_Sir_Watkin_Lewes_%284671600%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Sir Watkin Lewes (1740 – 13 July 1821)
was a
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
politician in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
Lewes was the second son of Reverend Watkin Lewes, of Pen-y-Benglog, Melinau, and Ann Williams, of Treamlod (
Ambleston
Ambleston ( cy, Treamlod) is a village, parish, and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying seven miles (11 km) north-north-east of Haverfordwest. The parish includes the hamlets of Wallis and Woodstock ( cy, Wstog).
Name
The English and W ...
), Pembrokeshire. He was educated at
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13 –18) in Shrewsbury.
Founded in 1552 by Edward VI by Royal Charter, it was originally a boarding school for boys; girls have been admitted into the ...
and at
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College ( ) is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary ...
, from which he graduated in 1763.
He was elected alderman for the London ward of
Lime Street and
Sheriff of London
Two sheriffs are elected annually for the City of London by the Liverymen of the City livery company, livery companies. Today's sheriffs have only nominal duties, but the historical officeholders had important judicial responsibilities. They have ...
in 1772, and was knighted in 1773. In 1780 he was elected
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional powe ...
.
In October 1781 he was elected at a by-election as one of the four
Members of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...
(MPs) for the
City of London
The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...
He served as an MP until his defeat
at the
1796 general election.
He stood again at the
general election, in 1802, but was unsuccessful.
He took a keen interest in the history and literature of
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
and was elected the second president (''Llywydd'') of the
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion ( cy, Anrhydeddus Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion), often called simply the Cymmrodorion, is a London-based Welsh learned society, with membership open to all. It was first established in 1751 as a social, cultural ...
.
He died in a
coffeehouse
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-ca ...
on
Ludgate Hill
Ludgate Hill is a street and surrounding area, on a small hill in the City of London. The street passes through the former site of Ludgate, a city gate that was demolished – along with a gaol attached to it – in 1760.
The area include ...
, which was situated within the boundaries of the
Fleet Prison where he had been imprisoned for debt.
References
External links
*
1740 births
1821 deaths
People educated at Shrewsbury School
Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge
Sheriffs of the City of London
18th-century lord mayors of London
18th-century English politicians
Inmates of Fleet Prison
People imprisoned for debt
Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
British MPs 1780–1784
British MPs 1784–1790
British MPs 1790–1796
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