George Leslie Lee (1814 – 15 September 1897) was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1862 to 1870. A farmer by trade, he held significant land holdings. He acted as electoral officer in many elections in Canterbury.
Leslie Lee | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lee (year unknown) | |
| Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council | |
| In office 24 July 1862 – 8 November 1870 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Leslie Lee 1814 |
| Died | 15 September 1897 (aged 83) Avonside, Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Resting place | Avonside Cemetery, Holy Trinity Avonside |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse |
Maria Fuller (m. 1856) |
Early life and career
editLee was born in 1814.[1] His parents were John Benjamin Lee and Amelia Lee (nee Knyvett) from Middlesex. He arrived in Lyttelton on the Stag on 2 August 1852. As Charlotte Godley had earlier written that he was "detained in England with a sick wife" but then arrived by himself, it is assumed that his first wife had died.[2] Lee bought the Highfield sheep run, which adjoined the later town Waiau in North Canterbury.[3] He sold Highfield in 1864 and bought Stoke Grange instead, which was split off from the Fernside run held by Charles Torlesse.[2]
Political career
editLee represented the Amuri electorate in the Nelson Provincial Council from 8 October 1855 to 16 December 1856.[4] He was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 24 July 1862 to 8 November 1870, when he resigned.[5] Soon after buying Stoke Grange, Lee stood for the Rangiora and Mandeville Road Board, and easily won the election in July 1864.[6] Lee represented the Oxford electorate on the Canterbury Provincial Council from April 1867 to October 1870. He was a member of the Executive Council from 10 June 1868 to 4 June 1869.[4] He was the returning officer for many elections in the wider Christchurch area.[7]
Lee resigned all his positions in October 1870 as he went bankrupt, but the case never went to court.[2]
Private life
editOn 21 May 1856 at Kaiapoi, Lee married Maria Fuller, the daughter of Lt-Col Fuller CB of Oxfordshire.[8] After his bankruptcy, they first lived at Styx Mill and then Avonside.[2] When the secretary of the Provincial Council resigned, Lee was one of seven applicants and was selected by the elected members in the first ballot with a clear majority.[2]
Lee died on 15 September 1897 at his home in Avonside at age 83. He was survived by his wife; they had no children.[9][10] Lee was buried at Avonside Cemetery, which belongs to Holy Trinity Avonside.[11]
References
edit- ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 157. OCLC 154283103.
- ^ a b c d e Macdonald, George. "George Leslie Lee". Macdonald Dictionary. Canterbury Museum. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1903). "Highfield Estate". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand.
- ^ a b Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. pp. 191, 194, 213.
- ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 157. OCLC 154283103.
- ^ "R". The Press. Vol. V, no. 543. 27 July 1864. p. 2. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1903). "The Hon. George Leslie Lee". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ "Married". Lyttelton Times. Vol. VI, no. 371. 24 May 1856. p. 6. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Deaths". Lyttelton Times. Vol. XCVIII, no. 11375. 16 September 1897. p. 1. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Mr George Leslie Lee". The Star. No. 5977. 16 September 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ "Funeral notices". The Press. Vol. LIV, no. 9833. 16 September 1897. p. 8. Retrieved 9 April 2024.