Born in London, he was educated at St Paul's School and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he displayed exceptional ability as a classical scholar. After taking orders in 1830 he served under Thomas Arnold at Rugby School, and in 1838 was appointed head of King Edward's school, Birmingham, where he had among his pupils EW Benson, JB Lightfoot and BF Westcott. In 1848 Lord John Russell nominated him as first bishop of the newly-constituted see of Manchester.
Lee's schoolmasterly manner was an irritation to his clergy. However, he carried out great work in church extension; during his twenty-one years' tenure of the see, he consecrated 130 churches. He took a foremost part in founding the Manchester free library, and bequeathed his own valuable collection of books to Owens College. His memorial sermon was preached by Archbishop EW Benson, and was published with biographical details by JF Wickenden and others.
This entry was originally from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.