During the American War of Independence Joel Lewis raised a company at his own expense. However, he was also a Quaker and this action was in conflict with core beliefs of the Society. See article Quakers in the American Revolution. From about 1860 until 1876 Lewis owned Membland Hall and estate, a distance of about 12 miles from his parliamentary constituency of Devonport. He eventually sold the property to Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke. Lewis was also the owner of the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington, now in the National Portrait Gallery (United States). The work was originally purchased by his father in 1827 and passed to Lewis's heir, Herman Leroy-Lewis. References External links 1828 births 1884 deaths Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1868–1874 Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Members of Lincoln's Inn People educated at Eton College English male writers English barristers