Matthew McFarlan Lewey

National Negro Business League portraits, No. 7 is Lewey Mathew McFarlan Lewey (December 1848 – August 12, 1935), was an American newspaper editor and publisher, postmaster, lawyer, politician, and justice of the peace in Florida. He also served as an officer in the Union Army, and as a militia officer. Lewey, who was from Baltimore, Maryland, was the first licensed Black male lawyer in Florida. He was a member of the National Negro Business League. Lewey served in the Florida House of Representatives and on Gainesville's city council. He also used the name M.M. Lewey.

Early life and education Lewey was born in Baltimore, Maryland in December 1848.

Lewey studied at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; and at Howard University's Law School.

Career In 1876, he moved to Newnansville, Florida (near Gainesville). Lewey served as the postmaster and mayor (1875–1877) of Newnansville. During that same time from 1875 to 1876, Lewey was justice of the peace for Alachua County. He served as its editor and publisher.

In 1905, he started a Pensacola street car boycott to protest segregation. A profile of him is included in the books The Afro-American Press and Its Editors (1891).