Robert Lee (Canadian politician)

Infobox Politician (general)
name= Robert Lee


imagesize=300
title= Mayor of Edmonton
term_start= December 14, 1908
term_end= December 12, 1910
predecessor= John Alexander McDougall
successor= George S. Armstrong
title2= Alderman on the Edmonton Town Council
term_start2= December 11, 1899
term_end2= December 9, 1901
title3= Alderman on the Edmonton City Council
term_start3= December 9, 1907
term_end3= December 14, 1908
birth_date= March 10, 1862
birth_place= Lanark County, Ontario
death_date= August 5, 1925 (aged 63)
spouse= Annette Wilson (1 daughter, 2 sons)
profession= Businessman
religion= Presbyterian

Robert Lee (born March 10, 1862; died August 5, 1925) was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a former mayor of Edmonton.

Biography

Lee was born in Lanark County, Ontario on March 10, 1862 and graduated from the Dominion Business College in Kingston. He married Annette Wilson, with whom he would have a daughter and two sons, in 1897. He served as a member of the Lanark City Council from 1892 until 1898, after which he moved to Edmonton. He was in partnership with John Ross in grain trading, insurance, and loans under the name Ross & Lee until 1902, after which he partnered with W I Crafts in real estate, timber, and coal mining under the name Crafts & Lee (another partner was admitted in 1905 as they became Crafts, Lee & Gallinger). He served on the public school board from 1902 until 1904.

He first sought municipal office in 1907, when he was elected to a two year term as alderman on Edmonton City Council, finishing fourth of twelve candidates in an election in which the top five candidates were elected. He resigned midway through his term to run for mayor in the 1908 election, when he defeated Thomas Bellamy by 1303 votes to 639. He was re-elected in 1909, defeating Robert Manson, but did not seek re-election in 1910 and stayed out of municipal politics thereafter.

In 1905 he erected the Lee Block on the corner of Jasper Avenue and Second Street (102 Street). The building housed, among other businesses, Reed's Bazaar. It was destroyed by fire in 1913 but a reconstruction of the building now stands at Fort Edmonton Park. He was active with the Presbyterian Church and the Liberal Party of Alberta.

Robert Lee died August 5, 1925.

References

* [http://www.epl.ca/Elections/results/EPLBiographiesLetter.cfm?id=M Edmonton Public Library Biography of Robert Lee]
* [http://www.edmonton.ca/CityGov/ElectionHistory/Members%20of%20Council%20Biographies.doc City of Edmonton biography of Robert Lee]