A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Lee, William Valentine
LEE. (Lieutenant, 1827. f-p., 16; h-p., 10.)
William Valentine Lee, born 14 Feb. 1806, at Reculvers, co. Kent, is son of Lieut. Wm. Lee, R.N. (1796), who died 24 Feb. 1817, at the Telegraph, West Square.
This officer entered the Navy, 22 June, 1821, as Schoolmaster, on board the Wye 26, Capt. Peter Fisher, stationed in the North Sea; and, on removing with that officer to the Ranger 28, visited North America and the West Indies, and then the Mediterranean, where, in 1824, we find him employed as Midshipman under Sir Harry Neale at the blockade of Algiers. During the three following years he presents himself to our notice as serving at Sheerness, and again in the Mediterranean, on board the Gloucester 74, Capts. Sir Edw. W. C. B. Owen and Joshua Sydney Horton, Philomel 10, Capts. Wm. Paget and Viscount Ingestrie, and Asia 84, bearing the flag of Sir Edw. Codrington. For his conduct as Mate of the Hind, tender to the latter ship, Lieut.-Commander John Robb, at the battle of Navarin, where he lost a leg, Mr. Lee was advanced to his present rank by commission dated 22 Oct. 1827. His next appointment was, 25 Oct. 1836, to the Victory 104, Capts. Thos. Searle, Fras. Erskine Loch, and Wm. Wilmott Henderson, under whom, in succession, he was for nearly six years and a half employed at Portsmouth. He has had charge, since 20 June, 1844, of the Semaphore station at Chelsea.
Lieut. Lee is in the receipt of a pension for his wound of 45l. 10s. He married, 4 Dec. 1828, Harriet, youngest daughter of John Pearce, Esq., of Haslar Hospital, by whom, he has issue six children.