Lewis William Washington (November 30, 1812 – October 1, 1871) was an American planter and great-grandnephew of
President George Washington. He is most remembered today for his involuntary participation in
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
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, Virginia, in 1859. He was taken as hostage and some of his slaves were briefly freed. (See
Black participation in John Brown's Raid.) As he outranked the other hostages he was their unofficial spokesperson, and he testified in
Brown's subsequent trial, and before the Senate committee investigating the raid.
Lewis Washington was the son of
George Corbin Washington, the grandson of William Augustine Washington, and a great-grandson of
Augustine Washington
Augustine Washington Sr. (November 12, 1694 – April 12, 1743) was the father of the first U.S. president, George Washington. He served as an officer in the British Navy during the War of Jenkin's Ear although he belonged to the Colony of Vi ...
, half-brother of George Washington.
Lewis Washington inherited
Beall-Air, near
Harper's Ferry, Virginia (since 1863, West Virginia), through his mother, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Beall (from which the estate's name. He made his home at Beall-Air from 1840 until his death in 1871. The mansion survives and is currently used for wedding receptions and the like.
The Harper's Ferry Raid
Lewis William Washington inherited several relics of George Washington, including a sword allegedly given by
Frederick the Great
Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the S ...
to Washington and a pair of pistols given by
Lafayette. John Cook, who served as John Brown's advance party at Harpers Ferry, befriended Washington and noted the relics, as well as the slave population at Beall-Air. Brown was fascinated with the Washington relics. During Brown's October 16, 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry a detachment from his force led by Cook seized the sword and pistols along with Washington a