John Spedan Lewis

John Spedan Lewis (22 September 1885, Marylebone, London – 21 February 1963 Romsey, Hampshire) was an English businessman and the founder of the John Lewis Partnership.

Elder son of John Lewis, who owned the John Lewis department store, London, Spedan joined the business at 19 and in 1914 assumed control of Peter Jones in Sloane Square, London.

On his father's death he formed the John Lewis Partnership and began distributing profits among its employees in 1929. He transferred control of the company to the employees in 1950 and resigned as chairman in 1955.

John Spedan Lewis was born in 1885, the elder of two sons of John Lewis and Eliza Lewis (née Baker). His middle name was in honour of his father's aunt, Ann Speed, who had raised his father from the age of eight. His brother Oswald was born in 1887. Spedan was educated at Westminster School. Throughout his life Lewis was a keen and active natural historian. From 1933 until his death he was a fellow of the Linnean Society, which awards its John Spedan Lewis Medal for contributions to conservation.

Spedan Lewis joined his father's John Lewis department store on Oxford Street, London, aged 19. On his 21st birthday he was given a quarter share in the business, and in 1914 assumed control of his father's second shop, Peter Jones in Sloane Square, London.

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