Samuel Bewley (1764-1837) was nicknamed the Solomon of the Quakers for his arbitration skills. Originally from Mountmellick, he was a silk merchant. Promoter of a number of commercial schemes such as the National Insurance Company and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce founded 1820, of which he was the treasurer. His campaign against the East India Company’s monopoly enabled Irish merchants to import tea directly from China and other places. He was involved in numerous philanthropic schemes. This involved practical ecumenism centred on Irish Episcopalian evangelicals centred round the Guinness and La Touche families. He played a leading role in the Kildare Place Schools which were set up in 1811 on a pragmatic and strictly non sectarian basis. He was involved with the Meath Hospital, the Sick and Poor Institute, The Dublin Savings Bank; He was a ship owner and traded with the Levant, North America ands Barbados. He advertised the sale of opium, valonia, silkworm, gum, liquorice paste, Turkish carpets and other exotic goods. An Elder and active member of the Society of Friends he served on the relief committee set up to assist Quakers who lost property in the 1798 rebellion. He was also a committee member of the Tract Association founded in 1814 to promote Quaker beliefs.
(Dictionary of Irish Biography from the earliest times to the year 2002 ;eds james mcguire and james quinn Vol 1 p317)
He was also a member of the Royal Dublin Society.
In the 1808 list of subscribers his address was given as Meath Street and Wilson’s Dublin Directory list him at 72 Meath Street in 1801.