David Lewis
British merchant and philanthropist
David Lewis (19 December 1823 – 4 December 1885), was a British merchant and philanthropist. The founder of Lewis's department store in Liverpool, in 1879 he conceived the idea of what is claimed to be the world's first Christmas grotto, entitled 'Christmas Fairyland'.2
From Wikipedia’s article on David Lewis (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born 1823, died Dec 4, 1885.1
About
This first is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
From Wikipedia’s article on David Lewis, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2
Companies
Career
Occupation: merchant.4
Personal life
Philanthropy
Lewis's ample means were freely given in aid of charitable and philanthropic works. He headed the local subscription list for the persecuted Jews of Russia with a donation of £1,000 ($5,000), and gave large sums in support of the synagogue. For many years he held the position of warden and treasurer of the Old Hebrew Congregation, Liverpool.
He died in 1885 and is buried next to his wife Bertha in Deane Road cemetery, Kensington, Liverpool.
At his death he bequeathed very large sums (nearly a half-million sterling) for the erection of hospitals and other philanthropic institutions, which constitute some of the most important in Liverpool.
From Wikipedia’s article on David Lewis (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Links
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataDavid Lewis on Wikidata
- 2WikipediaDavid Lewis on Wikipedia
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- 8WikidataLewis's, Founder