William Lewis (January 22, 1752 – August 16, 1819) was a Pennsylvania attorney and politician.

Born in Edgemont, Pennsylvania, Lewis read law to enter the bar in 1773. He was in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from then until 1787, when he was elected as a representative to the Pennsylvania State Legislature. In 1789 he became the United States Attorney for the District of Pennsylvania, until 1791.

Lewis received a recess appointment from President George Washington on July 14, 1791, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Pennsylvania vacated by Francis Hopkinson. Lewis was formally nominated on October 31, 1791, and was confirmed by the United States Senate, and received his commission, on November 7, 1791. His service terminated on January 4, 1792, due to resignation, and he returned to private practice in Philadelphia until his retirement in 1817. He died in Philadelphia.

[edit] Sources

• William Lewis (judge) at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Legal offices
Preceded by Francis Hopkinson	Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Pennsylvania July 14, 1791 – January 4, 1792	Succeeded by Richard Peters, Jr.