Lewis, William David, 1792-1881

Businessman.

William David Lewis arrived in Europe in 1814 at the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. Having obtained passage from New York as a secretary to the United States peace commission, Lewis soon resigned his office to join the employ of his brother John Delaware Lewis, a commission merchant in St. Petersburg, Russia. William spent the following ten years there. In 1820, William Lewis was sued for slander by the counsul at St. Petersburg, Leavitt Harris, and the seven year litigation invloved eminent officials in the United States and in Russia, including John Quincy Adams and James Monroe. Lewis began his owm import commission business in Philadelphia in 1825, helped finance several early railroads, and was cashier of Girard Bank, 1832-1842. From 1849 to 1853 Lewis served as Collector of Customs for the port of Philadelphia, despite the strenuous efforts against confirmation by his fellow Whigs from Pennsylvania. Lewis then retired to his estate near Florence, NJ, where he continued to take an active interest in business affairs. He was an ardent supporter of the Union during the Civil War.

William David Lewis (1792-1881) was an American merchant and banker. He worked in Russia for his brother from 1818 to 1824 and then became an importer and commission merchant in Philadelphia. He was cashier of the Girard Bank in Philadelphia from 1832 to 1842 and financed a number of Pennsylvania railroads.

William Lewis and his brother John Lewis were merchants in St. Petersburg, Russia, much of their trade with other merchants in Philadelphia, Pa.

William David Lewis was an American merchant and banker. He also published a translation of Russian poems and was president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

William David Lewis (1792-1881) was an American merchant and banker.

He worked in Russia for his brother from 1818 to 1824 and then became an importer and commission merchant in Philadelphia. He was cashier of the Girard Bank in Philadelphia from 1832 to 1842 and financed a number of Pennsylvania railroads.