Merton Elmer Lewis (December 10, 1861 – May 2, 1937) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 51st Attorney General of New York state.

He was born on December 10, 1861, in Webster, Monroe County, New York, the son of Charles Chadwick Lewis (b.

He graduated from Webster Union School, then studied law with James B. Perkins at Rochester.

[5] Woodbury resigned on April 19, 1917,[6] and six days later Lewis was elected New York Attorney General by joint ballot of the New York State Legislature, with Lewis receiving all 173 votes of the Democrats and Republicans in the legislature, and Morris Hillquit receiving 2 votes from the Socialist members.

[7] In 1918, he declined to run for re-election[8] and ran in the Republican primary for governor instead, with the support of Aldridge's machine in Rochester.