David P. Lewis

His Excellency David P. Lewis
23rd Governor of Alabama
In office November 17, 1872 – November 24, 1874
Lieutenant	Alexander McKinstry
Preceded by	Robert Lindsay
Succeeded by	George Houston
Member of the C.S. Congress from Alabama
In office February 8, 1861 – March 16, 1861
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Henry Jones
Personal details
Born	David Peter Lewis 1820 Charlotte County, Virginia
Died	July 3, 1884 (aged 63–64) Huntsville, Alabama
Resting place	Maple Hill Cemetery Huntsville, Alabama
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Other political affiliations	Democratic
Profession	Lawyer

David Peter Lewis (1820 – July 3, 1884) was the 23rd Governor of Alabama (1872-1874). After his term expired, a Republican was not be elected again as governor of Alabama for 119 years. In 1861, Lewis was a delegate to the Confederate Provisional Congress. In 1868, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

In 1869, Lewis joined the Republican Party. As a well-known North Alabama Unionist who nevertheless did support the Confederacy, he was an attractive candidate for governor and won decisively over Democrat Thomas Herndon. The 1872 election was highly controversial and conflicting election returns resulted in the seating of two different legislatures controlled by each party. During Lewis' term unsuccessful attempts were made to pass civil rights legislation which would have barred discrimination on common carriers and in hotels, schools, and theaters. The impact of the Panic of 1873 as well as the civil rights controversies led to Lewis' defeat in 1874. He later unsuccessfully sought an appointment to the federal bench. Disillusioned by politics, he returned to the practice of law in Huntsville, where he is interred at Maple Hill Cemetery.

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