William Lewin

William Lewin or Lewyn (died 15 April 1598) of London and Otterden, Kent, was a college fellow, tutor, ecclesiastical lawyer, and judge. He also served three times as a member of parliament for Rochester.

Biography William Lewin, said to have been of 'humble origin', was one of the five children of Edmund Lewin (son of John Lewin of Cuffley, Hertfordshire) by Juliana Goche, the daughter of William Goche of Good Easter, Feodary of Essex.

He matriculated as a pensioner at Christ's College, Cambridge, in November 1559, graduated B.A. in March 1562, M.A. in 1565, and Doctor of Laws in 1576. He was a Fellow of his college from 1562 to 1571, University Proctor for part of 1568, and Public Orator of the University in 1570/71. When the Queen visited Cambridge in 1564, Lewin was chosen to address her.

Lewin married Anne Goldsmith, the daughter of Francis Goldsmith of Crayford, Kent, a lady celebrated for her beauty and virtues in Gabriel Harvey's dedication of Ciceronianus to her husband, by whom he had at least ten children, including three sons, Thomas, Justinian (1586 – 28 June 1620), and John, and three daughters: Anne (d.1645), who married Sir Lawrence Washington (1579–1643) of Garsdon, Wiltshire, Registrar of the Court of Chancery, by whom she was the mother of Lawrence Washington (1622–62); Catherine, who married James Paget of Northamptonshire; and Judith (1590–1625), who married Sir John Isham of Lamport Hall, near Northampton.

Lewin's heir was his second son, Justinian (1586 – 28 June 1620), who was a lawyer and a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to James I, and married, on 14 May 1607, Elizabeth Capel, the daughter of Arthur Capel of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire.

He died on 15 April 1598, and was buried in St Leonard's, Shoreditch. There is also a monumental inscription to him at Otterden, Kent.