Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Evans, Lewis (1755-1827)
EVANS, LEWIS (1755–1827), mathematician, son of the Rev. Thomas Evans of Bassaleg, Monmouthshire, was born in 1755 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886, p. 435). He was matriculated at Merton College, Oxford, 16 Dec. 1774, but left the university without a degree. In 1777 he was ordained by the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, his first curacy being that of Ashbury, Berkshire, where he served until 6 July 1778. He then commenced residence as curate of Compton, Berkshire, and continued there until 1788, in which year he received institution to the vicarage of Froxfield, Wiltshire. He held the living until his death. In 1799 he was appointed first mathematical master at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in which post he laboured until 1820. In addition to a competent knowledge of various sciences, he had turned much of his attention, in the latter part of his life, to astronomy. He possessed several valuable instruments, and for many years employed himself as a skilful and successful observer, having his own private observatory on Woolwich Common. To the ‘Philosophical Magazine’ he contributed the following dissertations: ‘An improved Demonstration of Newton's Binomial Theorem on Fluxional Principles’ (vol. xxiv.); ‘Observations of α Polaris for determining the North Polar Distance of that Star at the beginning of 1813’ (vol. xliii.); ‘Tables of the Sun's Altitude and Zenith Distance, for every day in the year’ (vol. lvi.); ‘The Solar Eclipse, observed on 7th Sept. 1820’ (vol. lvi.) Evans was elected F.R.S. 29 May 1823, and was also fellow of the Astronomical Society. He died at Froxfield 19 Nov. 1827 (Gent. Mag. vol. xcvii. pt. ii. p. 570). By his wife, Ann Norman, he was father of Thomas Simpson Evans [q. v.], and of Arthur Benoni Evans [q. v.]
[Information from John Evans, esq., F.R.S.; Royal Kalendars; Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society of London, i. 53.]