Lewis William Washington (November 30, 1812 – October 1, 1871) was a great-grandnephew of President George Washington, a planter and slaveowner. He is most remembered today for his involuntary participation in John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859. He was taken as hostage and some of his slaves were briefly freed. (See John Brown's raiders#Black participation.) As he outranked the other hostages he was their unofficial spokesperson, and he testified in Brown's subsequent trial, and before the Senate committee investigating the raid.