Frederick James Lewis, surveyor-general of Natal, was the
son of Charles Lewis and his wife Isabella, born Annandale. He was educated at
Maritzburg College, Pietermaritzburg, and showed a strong aptitude for
mathematics. In March 1892 he entered the civil service of Natal Colony as a
clerical probationer and in July 1896 was appointed as a third class clerk in
the office of the Surveyor-General. He was promoted to draughtsman and computer
in September 1898, to acting examiner of diagrams in January 1908, and, after
the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, to professional assistant to
the surveyor-general of Natal in April 1912. In 1915 he succeeded John L.
Watson* as surveyor-general of Natal, a position he held until his retirement
in September 1929.
Lewis spent much of his time correcting earlier survey
errors and putting urban surveys on a sound footing. He also compiled a
Map of the Colony of Natal and Zululand
(1897). After his retirement he pursued his interest in municipal affairs, served
on the city council of Pietermaritzburg from 1931 until his death, and as mayor
from 1936 to 1939. He was married to Francis Maud Goodwin, with whom he had two
sons and two daughters.
