Jump to content

James George Lee Steere: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
→‎See also: {{Cite Australasia}}
m moved James George Lee-Steere to James George Lee Steere over redirect: Most references do not show the hyphen
(No difference)

Revision as of 08:55, 18 December 2010

Sir James George Steere KCMG (4 July 1830 – 1 December 1903)[1] was a Western Australian politician and a prominent member of the six hungry families.

James Steere was born at Ockley, Surrey, England, third of six sons of Lee Steere of Jayes, who was a leading resident and landed proprietor in the county, and his wife Anne, née Watson.[1] After being educated at Clapham Grammar School, Lee-Steere became a midshipman in the merchant service and was at sea for 15 years. His last position was commander of the Devonshire, well-known East Indiaman.[2] Early in 1860 Lee-Steere emigrated to Western Australia and leased 100,000 acres (400 km²) of land in the southern part of the colony. In 1867 he was one of the first elected members of the Western Australian Legislative Council, won his seat again in 1870, and was then chosen leader of the elected members. In 1880 he lost his seat by one vote but almost immediately became a nominee member. Lee-Steere was made a member of the Executive Council in 1884 and two years later was elected Speaker. In 1890 he was elected a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly under responsible government and was unanimously elected Speaker. He held this position for the remainder of his life.[2]

Lee-Steere represented Western Australia at the federal conventions of 1891 and 1897, and was a member of the constitutional committee on each occasion. Lee-Steere died at Perth, Western Australia on 1 December 1903. He married in 1859 Catherine Anne Leake (daughter of Luke Leake) who survived him with a large family of sons and daughters. He was knighted in 1888, and created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1900.[2]

Lee-Steere was regarded as an able, upright and hardworking member of the community. A good constitutional authority and an able Speaker, he was held in great respect by all parties in the house and by the public generally.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Bolton, G. C. (1990). "Steere, Sir James George Lee (1830 - 1903)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 12. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  2. ^ a b c d Serle, Percival (1949). "Lee-Steere, James George". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 2008-10-13.

See also

Template:Persondata