William Henry Lee, Former Clerk of the Privy Council (1867-1872)

William Henry Lee
Clerk of the Queen's Privy Council
July 1, 1867 to June 30, 1872

Biographical Notes

William Henry Lee was the first Clerk of the Queen's Privy Council, serving from July 1, 1867, to June 30, 1872.

Mr. Lee was educated in Montreal. In 1821 he entered government service as an extra clerk in the offices of the Executive Council of Upper Canada, moving up to junior clerk in 1828 and senior clerk in 1831. He became Acting Clerk of the Executive Council in 1839 and held the same position in the Province of Canada in 1841. From 1839 to 1853 he was Clerk to the Heir and Devisee Commission, established to clarify the land titles of the heirs or devisees of those who had been assigned Crown lands before 1795. Mr. Lee was appointed Clerk of the Executive Council in 1853, a position he held until his appointment as Clerk of the Privy Council. He also held a number of minor positions, including deputy governor for signing money warrants in 1866 and commissioner to administer the Oath of Allegiance under the Civil Service Act in 1868. He died in Ottawa on September 11, 1878.

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