Family background
Benjamin Lewis was born c1817 at Caher, Tipperary, Ireland, the son of John L Lewis and Catherine Rourke. He immigrated to Australia on board the ship ‘Susan’ which arrived at Sydney in 1842. Benjamin Lewis married Ann O’Brien on 18 June 1844 at St James Church, Sydney, NSW, and they had three sons and a daughter. He died at Sydney, on 14 February 1899, aged 82 years; he was buried at Rookwood Cemetery. He left no Will. Lewis lived in Raglan Street, Alexandria.
Occupation & interests
Since alderman received no pay, bootmaker Benjamin Lewis was attracted to municipal office by a combination of public service and self interest. He was closely identified with the local community through his small owner operated business.
Local government service
Benjamin Lewis was an alderman on the Alexandria Council for two terms: 1870-71 and 1874-75.
References
‘Municipal Elections’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 February 1870, p. 1, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13199897