Burwell Boykin Lewis

Lewis was born in Montgomery, Alabama and soon moved, with his parents, to Mobile, Alabama. Both parents died while in Mobile and young Lewis went to Montevallo, Alabama in Shelby County, Alabama to live with an uncle. While there he attended private schools. Upon completion he moved to Tuscaloosa where he attended the University of Alabama. He next moved to Selma where he studied law. Lewis was admitted to the bar in 1859 and began to practice law in Montevallo. With the outbreak of the American Civil War Lewis enlisted in the Confederate States Army. He served with the Second Alabama Cavalry and attained the rank of captain.

Lewis was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives from 1870 to 1872. He moved to Tuscaloosa where he engaged in business activities before being elected to an at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1875. This seat was to represent the 8th congressional district which was first apportioned as a result of the 1880 census. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the 1876 election but was elected to the 6th congressional district in 1878. He began his service in March 1879 and served until October 1880 when he resigned to serve as the president of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Lewis served as president of the UA for just over five years until his death in Tuscaloosa, in 1885.

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Burwell Boykin Lewis Accessed 21 April 2007