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 January 1, 1820 Charlotte County, Virginia |
| Died |
July 3, 1884 (aged 64) Huntsville, Alabama |
| Resting place |
Maple Hill Cemetery Huntsville, Alabama |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic |
| Profession | Lawyer |
David Peter Lewis (January 1, 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.
