Watkin Lewes

Sir Watkin Lewes was a Welsh merchant and politician who served as Lord [Mayor of London] in 1780.
Lewes was the second son of Reverend Watkin Lewes, of Pen-y-Benglog, Melinau, and Ann Williams, of Treamlod, Pembrokeshire. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and at Magdalene [College, Cambridge], from which he graduated in 1763. He was elected alderman for the London ward of Lime [Street (ward)|Lime Street] and Sheriff of London in 1772, and was knighted in 1773. In 1780 he was elected Lord Mayor of London.
In October 1781 he was elected at a by-election as one of the four Members of Parliament for the City of London He served as an MP until his defeat at the 1796 [British general election|1796 general election]. He stood again at the 1802 [United Kingdom general election|general election, in 1802], but was unsuccessful.
He took a keen interest in the history and literature of Wales and was elected the second president of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion.
He died in a coffeehouse on Ludgate Hill, which was situated within the boundaries of the Fleet Prison where he had been imprisoned for debt.