John Spedan Lewis

John Spedan Lewis
Born(1885-09-22)22 September 1885
Marylebone, London, England
Died21 February 1963(1963-02-21) (aged 77)
Romsey, Hampshire, England
EducationWestminster School
Known forFounder, John Lewis Partnership
Spouse
Sarah Beatrice Hunter
(m. 1923; died 1953)
Children3
Parents
RelativesOswald Lewis (brother)

John Spedan Lewis (22 September 1885 – 21 February 1963) 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.