LEE, George Lawrence (1802-1871) — London
Lithographer, printer & engraver. Lithographed The railway travellers guide through London ca.1858, for C. A. Tomlins. Advertised as “the cheapest lithographing office in London … where every branch of the art is executed on the premises” (Evening Standard, 10 Feb 1858 and repeats) and “You a swell, and not a card! — Go immediately, if not sooner, to G. L. Lee, No. 9, Holborn-bars, and get 50 cards (enamel or ivory), copper-plate included, for ls.10d. Sent free by post. Every description of engraving and printing lower than at any other office in London” (Evening Standard, 9 Mar 1858 and repeats). Mainly a printer of circulars, stationery, etc, but also known for a caricature, some views, and at least one portrait — that of Sarah Whitehead, said to haunt the Bank of England. .
Reportedly born 24 Jul 1802 in Aldgate, London, and named at Bevis Marks Synagogue 24 Sep 1802, the son of Eleazar Lee or Levy, a licensed slaughterman in the Torah tradition, and his wife Sarah. Married Julia Hart (1807?-1872) at the Hambro synagogue 24 or 27 Oct 1827. Living on High Holborn in 1841 with his wife and six children. There were nine children by 1851, including Lawrence Lee (1829?-1876) and Edward Lee (1834?-1906), both also lithographers. Exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851, demonstrating some of his inventions. Recorded as an insolvent debtor 23 Dec 1853. Granted a patent for “improvements in producing printing surfaces” in 1859 and another in 1862 for “improvements in the manufacture of metallic shutters for shop fronts, doors, and windows”, the latter expiring in 1869. Imprisoned for debt in early 1860. By 1861, further sons Isaac John (1837-1916) and David (1842?-1889) had also become lithographers. Lee also sold lithographic materials and testified at a Mansion House trial concerning some forgers who had bought a lithographic stone and hired a press from him, apparently intent on forging Russian banknotes (The Sun, 23 Oct 1847). He similarly testified at Old Bailey forgery trials 21 Oct 1850 and 11 Jun 1866, in both cases having assisted the police in trapping the culprit, on the latter occasion noting that “I carry on the business of an engraver, but I am a lithographer by profession — I have been in business forty years”. He died 18 Dec 1871 at 39 Devonshire Street at the age of sixty-nine, the business continuing to at least 1884.
2 Mitre Square, Aldgate — 1826-1836
28 Red Lion Street, Holborn — 1834-1839
High Holborn — 1841
245 High Holborn — 1843-1855
— and 376 Strand — 1846-1848
9 Holborn Bars — 1858-1859
45 Holborn Hill — 1859-1860
49 Holborn — 1860-1862
8 Hatton Garden — 1866
Hyde Street (home) — 1866
18 Great James Street, Holborn — 1871
BBTI. BM. BNA. Census 1841-1871. Hake. Hyde. Information from Jill Le Bian. LG. Twyman. Wakeman & Bridson.
