Family and Education

b. 8 May 1695, 3rd s. of Sir Thomas Lee, 2nd Bt., M.P.; bro. of George, Sir Thomas, 3rd Bt., and William Lee. m. (1) 5 July 1739, Constance (or Charlotte) (d. 12 July 1740), da. of Adm. Sir Thomas Hardy, s.p.; (2) Mary, da. of John Browne of Riseley, Beds., 2s.

Offices Held

Ensign 1 Ft. Gds. 1717, lt. and capt. by 1727, capt.-lt. 1735, capt. and lt.-col. 1736; res. c.1745.

Biography

Seeing no prospect of advancement after over 30 years in the army,1 John Lee resigned his commission and was brought into Parliament in 1747 by the Prince of Wales, no doubt on the recommendation of his brother, George Lee. On the Prince’s death in 1751 he went over to the Government with his brother, who in 1752 asked Pelham to give John a post vacated by the death of Sir Thomas Reade, but was told that

there were several gentlemen who had served the King well in Parliament that were candidates for those kind of employments, and that since the late Act of Parliament [the Place Act 1742] passed, there were not many left for the King to oblige his old friends.2

In 1753 he was on Pelham’s list for a seat, which was ultimately provided by Humphry Morice, George Lee’s father-in-law. In 1754 George Lee attempted unsuccessfully to obtain a place for him from Newcastle, writing 9 Apr. 1754: ‘It would be an additional favour if it could be done before the election, because it will save him trouble and expense of a second election’. Following George back into opposition in 1755, he died c. Nov. 1761.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

• 1. Geo. Lee to Newcastle, 9 Apr. 1754, Add. 32735, f. 68.
• 2. Pelham to Newcastle, 3 Oct. 1752, Add. 32730, f. 30.