Matthew M. Lewey

Matthew M. Lewey (December 1848 – August 12, 1935) was an officer in the Union Army, then a politician, militia officer,[1] and judge in Florida.[2] Lewey, who was from Baltimore, Maryland, was the first licensed Black male lawyer in Florida.[3][4][5][6] He studied at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and Howard University's Law School.[7] During the American Civil War he served in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.[3]

Lewey served as the postmaster and mayor (1875-1877) of Newnansville, Florida.[3][8] He represented Alachua County in the Florida House of Representatives in 1883.[3] He established the Gainesville Sentinel (one of Florida's first Black newspapers) which became the Florida Sentinel (African American newspaper) when he relocated to Pensacola.[9] He served as its editor and publisher.[10]

The New York Public Library has a photo of him.[11]

References
  1. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/344522?id=1
  2. "A forgotten obituary: The legacy of Sgt. Matthew M. Lewey". A forgotten obituary: The legacy of Sgt. Matthew M. Lewey - The Independent Florida Alligator.
  3. Brown, Canter (September 23, 1998). Florida's Black Public Officials, 1867-1924. University of Alabama Press. ISBN 9780817309152 – via Google Books.
  4. Thomas, Voleer. "Gainesville Sun's coverage of race relations from reconstruction to Jim Crow era scrutinized". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  5. Dogan, Reginald T (29 June 2006). "Historic home of Florida's first black lawyer/editor goes up in smoke". Pensacola News Journal. p. C.1. ProQuest 435996700.
  6. Neyland, Leedell W. (1970). Twelve Black Floridians. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Foundation. OCLC 669377162.
  7. "Page 440". digital.ncdcr.gov.
  8. "Book Notes". Florida Historical Quarterly. 50 (2): 204–210. 1971.
  9. https://www.xaviercortada.com/page/FLOR500garden52?
  10. "The Florida Sentinel Annual, 1904, Pensacola, Fla. | uwf.digital.flvc.org". uwf.digital.flvc.org.
  11. "African American Newspaper Editors in Early 20th Century Florida – The US Caribbean & Ethnic Florida Digital Newspaper Project". 22 February 2018.
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