George Lewis (also known as Slave George or Lilburn Lewis' slave George) (c. 1794 – December 15, 1811) was an African American boy held as a slave; he was murdered in western Kentucky on the night of December 15–16, 1811 by Lilburne and Isham Lewis, grown sons of Dr. Charles Lilburn Lewis and Lucy Jefferson Lewis, and nephews of Thomas Jefferson. The brothers were also related to Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame.[1]
Because the killing coincided with the time and location of the New Madrid earthquake and the ensuing disgrace of the prominent Lewis family, accounts of it quickly became part of the regional and national lore. Soon after being released on bail, Lilburne Lewis accidentally shot himself. Jailed after his brother's death, Isham escaped and disappeared from the area, and is believed to have perished in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.
Jefferson was related to the Lewis family by marriage, and from the time he first heard about Meriwether's death, he believed that Lewis had committed suicide as a result of an inherited tendency toward depression and mental disturbance. Subsequent events could only have reinforced Jefferson's feelings, for at the time he wrote this sketch of Meriwether, the former president was reeling from the news of a scandalous murder committed by his nephews, Lilburn and Isham Lewis.