Vice-Admiral Fitzroy Henry Lee (2 January 1699 – 14 April 1750) was a British Royal Navy officer who served as Commodore Governor of the Colony of Newfoundland.

FitzRoy Henry Lee
Fitzroy Henry Lee, c. 1725
Born(1699-01-02)2 January 1699
Died14 April 1750(1750-04-14) (aged 51)
Allegiance Kingdom of Great Britain
 United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1717–1750
RankVice-Admiral
CommandsHMS Looe
HMS Pearl
HMS Falkland
Newfoundland Station
HMS Pembroke
HMS Edinburgh
HMS Suffolk
Leeward Islands Station
Battles / wars

Lee supposedly inspired the character "Hawser Trunnion" in Tobias Smollett's novel, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle.[1]

Life

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Lee was the seventh son of Edward Henry Lee, 1st Earl of Lichfield, and Lady Charlotte Fitzroy, Charles II's illegitimate daughter.

Lee was born in Oxfordshire, England. He entered the Royal Navy in 1716, and obtained a promotion to lieutenant in 1722. Lee became captain of HMS Falkland in 1734 and was commissioned Governor of Newfoundland in May 1735.[2]

Around 1746, the Navy relieved Lee of command, based on charges of debauchery and drunkenness. A pending promotion to rear-admiral was suspended. However, in October 1747, when Lee arrived back in England, the Navy reinstated his promotion, effective 15 July 1747. On 12 May 1748, Lee was promoted to vice-admiral of the white, but he had no further service,

Lee died suddenly on 14 April 1750.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Laughton, J. K.; Carter, Philip. "Lee, Fitzroy Henry (1699–1750)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/16280. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Godfrey, Michael (1974). "Lee, Fitzroy Henry". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. III (1741–1770) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  3. ^ Laughton 1892.
Attribution

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainLaughton, John Knox (1892). "Lee, Fitzroy Henry". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 32. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

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Political offices
Preceded by Commodore Governor of Newfoundland
1735–1737
Succeeded by