John Lawson Lewis


Gender:
Male
Born:
March 6, 1800
Died:
May 15, 1886
Home Town:
Lexington, KY
Later Residences:
New Orleans, LA
Marriage(s):
Camille de Feriet Lewis (September 24, 1827)
Biographical Notes:
John Lawson Lewis was the son of Joshua Lewis, a lawyer who was sent by Thomas Jefferson as one of three delegates to receive the Louisiana territory from the French as well as the later Justice of the Supreme Court of the Territory of New Orleans. His father moved the family to New Orleans, LA in 1803.

After attending the Law School, he returned to Louisiana to practice law. He became involved in local politics serving as the Minute Clerk to the First Judicial District Court in 1825 and a year later as the Chief Clerk of the First Judicial Court. In addition, Lewis was elected Sheriff of the Parish of New Orleans in 1845, Louisiana State Senator in 1852 and Mayor of New Orleans in 1854.

His wife and three of their children all died tragically within a few days during an ...
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Education
Years at LLS:
1825
Other Education:
Tutored first by Francois d'Hemecourt and later by Rev. James F. Hull, the rector of the Christ Church in New Orleans, LA.

Profession / Service
Profession:
Military; Political Office
Training with Other Lawyers:
He studied law under the guidance of his father.
State Posts:
Minute Clerk to the First Judicial District Court (LA) 1825
Chief Clerk of the First Judicial Court (LA) 1826
State Senator (LA) 1852
Local Posts:
Sheriff of the parish (New Orleans, LA) 1845
Mayor (New Orleans, LA) 1854

Related Objects and Documents
In the Ledger:
help The Citation of Attendance provides primary source documentation of the student’s attendance at the Litchfield Female Academy and/or the Litchfield Law School. If a citation is absent, the student is thought to have attended but currently lacks primary source confirmation.

Records for the schools were sporadic, especially in the formative years of both institutions. If instructors kept comprehensive records for the Litchfield Female Academy or the Litchfield Law School, they do not survive. Researchers and staff have identified students through letters, diaries, family histories and genealogies, and town histories as well as catalogues of students printed in various years. Art and needlework have provided further identification of Female Academy Students, and Litchfield County Bar records document a number of Law School students. The history of both schools and the identification of the students who attended them owe credit to the early 20th century research and documentation efforts of Emily Noyes Vanderpoel and Samuel Fisher, and the late 20th century research and documentation efforts of Lynne Templeton Brickley and the Litchfield Historical Society staff.
CITATION OF ATTENDANCE:
Catalogue of the Litchfield Law School Hartford, CT: Press of Case, Tiffany and Company, 1848.

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