Lewis Weston Dillwyn

Who was Lewis Weston Dillwyn?

Lewis Weston Dillwyn, FRS was a British porcelain manufacturer, naturalist and Member of Parliament.

He was born in Walthamstow, Essex, the eldest son of William Dillwyn and Sarah Dillwyn. His father, a Pennsylvanian Quaker had returned to Britain in 1777 during Philadelphia's worst period in the American War of Independence and settled at Higham Lodge, Walthamstow, Essex, UK. William Dillwyn was a vociferous anti-slavery campaigner and toured England and South Wales in his work for the Anti-Slavery Committee. William Dillwyn was related to George Haynes through the Emlen and Physick families in Philadelphia and it is likely that the opportunity to buy the Cambrian Pottery, Swansea, Glamorganshire from him came about through these family connections in America.

William's letters to his daughter Suzanna are held by the Library Company in Philadelphia and stored at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. These letters show that the factory was bought by William to keep Lewis active while the latter was suffering from gout.