William David Lewis (1792-1881) was a 19th-century banker, merchant, and railroad executive based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1] [2]
In 1832, Lewis hired future locomotive titan Matthias Baldwin to assemble a locomotive kit for the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad; Baldwin completed the engine, named Delaware, later in the year. This experience allows Baldwin to build Old Ironsides, his first locomotive from scratch, later in the year. [3]
Later in the 1830s, Lewis was a director of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad, [4] which forged the first rail link between the cities. His service is noted on the 1839 Newkirk Viaduct Monument.
In 1839, Lewis was a director of the Philadelphia Museum Company. [5] Founded by famed painter Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827), it was one of America's first museums. It went out of business in the 1850s, and the collection was sold for roughly $6,000 to P.T. Barnum and Moses Kimball. [6] [7]
In the 1840s, Lewis became president of the Catawissa Railroad. [8]
William David Lewis (1792-1881) was a 19th-century banker, merchant, and railroad executive based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1] [2]
In 1832, Lewis hired future locomotive titan Matthias Baldwin to assemble a locomotive kit for the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad; Baldwin completed the engine, named Delaware, later in the year. This experience allows Baldwin to build Old Ironsides, his first locomotive from scratch, later in the year. [3]
Later in the 1830s, Lewis was a director of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad, [4] which forged the first rail link between the cities. His service is noted on the 1839 Newkirk Viaduct Monument.
In 1839, Lewis was a director of the Philadelphia Museum Company. [5] Founded by famed painter Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827), it was one of America's first museums. It went out of business in the 1850s, and the collection was sold for roughly $6,000 to P.T. Barnum and Moses Kimball. [6] [7]
In the 1840s, Lewis became president of the Catawissa Railroad. [8]