James George Lee-Steere
Encyclopedia
Sir James George Lee Steere KCMG
(4 July 18301 December 1903) was a Western Australia
n politician and a prominent member of the six hungry families
.
James Steere was born at Ockley
, Surrey
, England
, third of six sons of Lee Steere of Jayes, who was a leading resident and landed proprietor in the county, and his wife Anne, née Watson. After being educated at Clapham Grammar School, Lee Steere became a midshipman
in the merchant service and was at sea for 15 years. His last position was commander of the Devonshire, well-known East Indiaman
.
Early in 1860 Lee Steere emigrated to Western Australia
and leased 100,000 acres (400 km²) of land in the southern part of the colony. In 1867 he was one of the first elected members of the Western Australian Legislative Council
, won his seat again in 1870, and was then chosen leader of the elected members. In 1880 he lost his seat by one vote but almost immediately became a nominee member. Lee Steere was made a member of the Executive Council in 1884 and two years later was elected Speaker. In 1890 he was elected a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
under responsible government and was unanimously elected Speaker
. He held this position for the remainder of his life.
Lee Steere represented Western Australia at the federal conventions
of 1891 and 1897, and was a member of the constitutional committee on each occasion. Lee Steere died at Perth, Western Australia
on 1 December 1903. He married in 1859 Catherine Anne Leake (daughter of Sir Luke Leake
) who survived him with a large family of sons and daughters. He was knighted
in 1888, and created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
(KCMG) in 1900.
Lee Steere was regarded as an able, upright and hardworking member of the community. A good constitutional authority and an able Speaker, he was held in great respect by all parties in the house and by the public generally.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(4 July 18301 December 1903) was a Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n politician and a prominent member of the six hungry families
Six hungry families
Six hungry families was a phrase used in the 1880s and 1890s to describe six of the most prominent and powerful families in colonial Western Australia, with extensive influence in judicial, political, mercantile and social circles...
.
James Steere was born at Ockley
Ockley
Ockley is a historic village in Surrey, built on Stane Street, a Roman Road stretching from Chichester to London. Situated between Dorking and Horsham, close to the Sussex/Surrey border, Ockley nestles in the shadows of Leith Hill, the highest point in South east England. Neighbouring villages...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, third of six sons of Lee Steere of Jayes, who was a leading resident and landed proprietor in the county, and his wife Anne, née Watson. After being educated at Clapham Grammar School, Lee Steere became a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in the merchant service and was at sea for 15 years. His last position was commander of the Devonshire, well-known East Indiaman
East Indiamen
An East Indiaman was a ship operating under charter or license to any of the East India Companies of the major European trading powers of the 17th through the 19th centuries...
.
Early in 1860 Lee Steere emigrated to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and leased 100,000 acres (400 km²) of land in the southern part of the colony. In 1867 he was one of the first elected members of the Western Australian Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
, won his seat again in 1870, and was then chosen leader of the elected members. In 1880 he lost his seat by one vote but almost immediately became a nominee member. Lee Steere was made a member of the Executive Council in 1884 and two years later was elected Speaker. In 1890 he was elected a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
under responsible government and was unanimously elected Speaker
Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer in the Legislative Assembly. The office has existed since the creation of the Legislative Assembly in 1890 under the Constitution Act 1889...
. He held this position for the remainder of his life.
Lee Steere represented Western Australia at the federal conventions
Constitutional Convention (Australia)
In Australian history, the term Constitutional Convention refers to four distinct gatherings.-1891 convention:The 1891 Constitutional Convention was held in Sydney in March 1891 to consider a draft Constitution for the proposed federation of the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand. There...
of 1891 and 1897, and was a member of the constitutional committee on each occasion. Lee Steere died at Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
on 1 December 1903. He married in 1859 Catherine Anne Leake (daughter of Sir Luke Leake
Luke Samuel Leake
Sir Luke Samuel Leake , MLC, was sometime Speaker of Legislative Council, Western Australia.Leake was the youngest son of Luke Leake, of Stoke Newington, Middlesex...
) who survived him with a large family of sons and daughters. He was knighted
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
in 1888, and created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(KCMG) in 1900.
Lee Steere was regarded as an able, upright and hardworking member of the community. A good constitutional authority and an able Speaker, he was held in great respect by all parties in the house and by the public generally.