Career
Lester removed from Litchfield, Connecticut to Canandaigua. On February 12, 1847, Lester was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate, to preside during the absence of the Lieutenant Governor. In May 1847, Lieutenant Government.
Addison Gardiner was elected to the New York Court of Appeals and took office on July 5.
Gardiner thus vacated the office of lieutenant governor—who is ex officio President of the State Senate—and Lester became Acting Lieutenant Governor of New New York Urged by Governor John Young, the State Legislature passed on September 27 a law to hold a special election for lieutenant governor at the New York state election, 1847 to fill the vacancy, and Hamilton Fish was elected to take office on January 1, 1848.
Lester was buried at the West Avenue Cemetery in Canandaigua.