John Lewis was born in Town Street, Shepton Mallet on 24th February 1836. His father, who was also called John Lewis, was a cabinet maker and baker. His mother was Elizabeth (née Speed). John Lewis's father died in 1843 and he was brought up by his aunt, Christian (possibly also known as Ann) Speed. He was educated at Shepton Mallet Grammar School. He was apprenticed to a draper in Wells when he was 14 years old. He also worked as an apprentice in Glastonbury, Bridgwater and Liverpool. In 1856 he started working for Peter Robinson in Oxford Street, London and by 1860 he was a buyer for silks and dress materials.
In 1864 John Lewis started his own drapery shop at 132 Oxford Street. At first he sold silk, cotton and woollen fabrics. He then added dress fabrics and clothes. At a later date he also started selling furnishing fabrics and household goods, such as china and ironmongery.
John Lewis's sisters Elizabeth, Eliza, Mary and Margaret moved to Weston-super-Mare with their aunt Christian Speed by 1861. They ran a stationery and dressmaking business in the High Street. Christian died in 1875 and the following year John Lewis bought a house for his sisters to live in in Bristol Road Lower. He called the house Spedan Ham.
In 1884 John Lewis married Elizabeth Baker, who was born in Bridgwater. She was one of the first students to attend Girton College in Oxford. John and Elizabeth had two sons - John Spedan (1885-1963) and Oswald (1887-1966). The Lewis family moved to a large house in Hampstead, which was called Spedan Towers, in 1888.
By 1895 John Lewis could afford to pay for his shop in Oxford Street to be rebuilt as a three storey department store. The new store included showrooms, a warehouse and a restaurant for customers. In 1905 or 1906 he bought Peter Jones Ltd in Sloane Square, London.
Both of John Lewis's sons were taken into partnership in their father's business on their 21st birthdays. In 1916 John Spedan Lewis took over the management of Peter Jones Ltd. John Lewis's management style was autocratic and ruthless. He sometimes dismissed staff without a good reason. He clashed with his sons, who disagreed with some of his business methods.
John Lewis died in 1928 aged 92. He never gave up control of his Oxford Street store and he never completely retired. In 1929 John Spedan Lewis created the John Lewis Partnership, which allowed the staff to benefit from the profits of the business.
