George Alexander Lee

Lee was born in London, the son of Henry Lee, a pugilist and innkeeper. He became "tiger" to Lord Barrymore, and his singing led to his being educated for the musical profession. After appearing as a tenor at the theatres in Dublin and London, he joined in producing opera at the Tottenham Street theatre in 1829, and afterwards was connected with musical productions at Drury Lane and Covent Garden.

He married Harriet Waylett, a popular singer on 23rd October, 1845 at Saint Martin in the Fields.[1] She had been unwell but seemed to be making a recovery as a press report of July 1848 was optimistic of her making a return to the stage.[2] Her death, on 26 April 1851, caused Lee a shock from which he never rallied.[3] He died at his lodgings in Newton Terrace, Kennington on 8 October 1851 and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery.[4]

Lee composed music for a number of plays and also many songs, including the popular "Come where the Aspens quiver", and for a short time had a music-selling business in the Quadrant.[1]

Attribution

• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lee, George Alexander" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Sharp, Robert Farquharson (1892). "Lee, George Alexander". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 32. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lee, George Alexander". Encyclopædia Britannica. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 361.

• Sheet music for "The Soldier's Tear", London: W. Paxton, from the Alabama Sheet Music Collection