Subject

Retailer. Born at Town Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. He worked in several drapery firms before opening his own business at number 132 (later 286) Oxford Street in 1864. In 1906 he walked from his shop to Sloane Square with £20,000 in banknotes in his pockets and purchased the Peter Jones shop. He was in a running battle with the landlords of his Oxford Street shop (the Portman Estate) over his rent and spent some weeks in Brixton Prison for contempt of court. He lost interest in Peter Jones and gave his eldest son, John Spedan a free hand in running it, which culminated in the founding of the John Lewis Partnership. Died at his home Spedan Towers, Hampstead.