Background
He was the eldest son of John Fiott and Harriet Lee. His father was involved in the family counting house business and was a failed East India merchant.
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John Lee
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Lee read Mathematics at, Cambridge between 1802 and 1806, graduating fifth wrangler in his year. He was elected a fellow in 1808. Following his studies from 1807-1815 he travelled extensively in the middle east and Europe as a travelling bachelor.
During this time he gained an interest in antiquities.
Career
Lee inherited several properties from William Lee Antonie in 1815. Antonie"s will predicated the inheritance on Lee changing his name by royal licence from Fiott. The properties included Colworth House near Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire and Totteridge Park formerly in Hertfordshire.
In 1827, Lee inherited Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire from Reverend Sir George Lee which became his main residence from 1829 until his death.
On 14 May 1824, Lee was elected as fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and was its president between 1861 and 1863. Lee became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1828 and a Fellow of the Philological Society in 1831.
Between 1830 and 1839, Lee built an astronomical observatory in the south-west corner of Hartwell House. Lee helped found the Royal Meteorological Society in 1850 and was its president from 1855-1857.
Lee was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1831 and the first president of the Numismatic Society of London in 1836.
In 1863 at the age of 80, he was made a barrister of Gray"s Inn and a Queen's Counsel the following year. The lunar crater Lee is named after him.
Membership
Royal Society.
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Born
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Died
February 25, 1866 (aged 82) -
Nationality
United Kingdom of Great Bri