Vernon Arthur Lewis, CMG, MC (died 1950) was a South Rhodesian politician and judge. Born in

Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing British Crown colony in Southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The region was informally known as South ...

, Lewis was educated at the

South African College The South African College was an educational institution in Cape Town, South Africa, which developed into the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the South African College Schools (SACS). History The process that would lead to the formation of th ...

and

New College, Oxford New College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by Bishop William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as New College's feeder school, New College was one of the first col ...

, where he was a

Rhodes scholar The Rhodes Scholarship is an international Postgraduate education, postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford in Oxford, United Kingdom. The scholarship is open to people from all backgrounds around the world. Esta ...

. He was called to the English bar by the

Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional association for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practice as a barrister in England and Wa ...

in 1910. During the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he commanded a battery and received the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia for Salisbury North in the 1934 Southern Rhodesian general election as the United Party candidate, and served as Minister of Justice, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Internal Affairs. He was appointed to the

High Court of Southern Rhodesia The High Court of Southern Rhodesia was a Southern Rhodesian court of record. It was established in 1899 and ceased to exist in 1980 on the establishment of Zimbabwe. Throughout its history, it functioned both as a trial court and an appellate co ...

in 1936. He was acting

Chief Justice of Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing British Crown colony in Southern Africa, established in 1923 and consisting of British South Africa Company (BSAC) territories lying south of the Zambezi River. The region was informally known as South Z ...

for a few days in 1950 until his death. He had been appointed a CMG in 1946. He was the son-law of

Sir Leander Starr Jameson Sir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, (9 February 1853 – 26 November 1917), also known as Starr Jameson, was a British colonial politician, who was best known for his involvement in the ill-fated Jameson Raid. Early life and family He wa ...

, having married his daughter. Their son, John Vernon Radcliffe Lewis, was also a judge in Southern Rhodesia.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Vernon Arthur 1950 deaths Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Recipients of the Military Cross Rhodesian lawyers Rhodesian judges Government ministers of Rhodesia Alumni of New College, Oxford Zimbabwean Rhodes Scholars Members of the Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia Members of the Inner Temple