John Lewis (24 February 1836 – 8 June 1928) was an English businessman and county councillor, known for being the founder of the John Lewis department store on Oxford Street, London and the national John Lewis & Partners chain of department stores.
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Early life
John Lewis was born in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England, and became an orphan at the age of seven. He was brought up by an aunt, Miss Ann Speed. Having served as an apprentice to a local draper from the age of fourteen, he moved to London to become a silk buyer in the capital, working in Peter Robinson's Department Store at Oxford Circus by the time he was 20.