Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 32.djvu/400

Leemput Apparently lost. It is printed in Peck's 'Desiderata Curiosa.' vii. 239-42.  LEEMPUT, REMIGIUS VAN (d. 1675), painter. [See ]  LEES, CHARLES (1800–1880), painter, born at Cupar in Fifeshire in 1800, studied art in Edinburgh, and received instructions in portraiture from Sir Henry Raeburn. He married early in life and went to Rome, where he studied for some years. On his return he settled in Edinburgh as a portrait-painter. Lees was elected one of the earliest fellows of the Royal Scottish Academy, and was a regular contributor to their exhibitions. He very seldom sent a picture to the London exhibitions. Besides portraits, he painted history, domestic subjects, and landscape, taking to the last late in life. Among his earlier pictures were 'The Murder of Rizzio,' 'The Death of Cardinal Beaton,' and 'John Knox in Prison.' He was fond of outdoor sports, and painted pictures of skaters, hockey players, and other sporting scenes. Two pictures by him of curling and golf matches were engraved; they contain a number of portraits of well-known performers at these games. A picture by him, 'Summer Moonlight — Bait-gatherers,' is in the Scottish National Gallery at Edinburgh. He also painted a large view of St. Mark's at Venice. Lees was for some years treasurer and one of the trustees of the Scottish Academy, and devoted much time to its affairs. He died on 28 Feb. 1880, of paralysis.

 LEES, EDWIN (1800–1887), botanist, born at Worcester in 1800, was educated at Birmingham. He began his career as a printer and stationer at 87 High Street, Worcester, and in 1828 he published, under the pseudonym of 'Ambrose Florence,' a guide to the city and cathedral, which contained a catalogue of the plants in the vicinity. He also contributed lists to Loudon's 'Magazine' and to Sir C. Hastings's 'Natural History of Worcestershire.' In 1829 he began to publish 'The Worcestershire Miscellany,' of which, only five numbers and a supplement appeared. It was issued in book form in 1831. On 12 Jan. 1829 he founded the Worcester Literary and Scientific Institute, of which he was joint secretary. He gave up business early in life, and devoted all his energies to local botany, in 1843 issuing his 'Botany of the Malvern Hills' (3rd edit. 1868); 'Botany of Worcestershire,' 1867; 'The Botanical Looker-out,' 1842 and 1851; 'Pictures of Nature,' 1856; and papers in the periodical press. He died on 21 Oct. 1887 at Greenhill Summit,' Worcester, and was buried at Pendock, Worcestershire. Lees, who was F.L.S. and F.G.S., was one of the first in this countrv to pay regard to the forms of brambles, and is commemorated botanically by his discovery, Rubus Leesii. Lees also published a masque in verse entitled 'Christmas and the New Year,' 2nd ed. 1828, and 'Scenery and Thought in Poetical Pictures of various Landscape Scenes and Incidents,' 1880.

 LEES, HARCOURT (1776–1852), political pamphleteer, born 29 Nov. 1776, was eldest son of Sir John Lees, bart. (created 1804), by Mary, eldest daughter of Robert Cathcart of Glandusk, Ayrshire. He graduated B.A. at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1799, and proceeded M.A. in 1802. His father saw service in Germany under the Marquis of Granbv, and had been private secretary to Lord Townshend during his administration of Ireland, where he was secretary to the post-office from 1784 until his death in 1811. Sir Harcourt Lees took holy orders, and was preferred to the rectory and vicarage of Killaney, co. Down, was collated to the prebend of Fennor in the church of Cashel 21 Nov. 1800, and to that of Tully-corbet in the church of Clogher in 1801. He resigned both stalls in July 1806. He died at Blackrock, near Dublin, on 7 March 1 852. He married, in or about October 1812, Sophia, daughter of Colonel Lyster of Grange, co. Roscommon, by whom he had four sons and four daughters. His fourth son William Nassau is separately noticed. Lees was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Lees, who died 19 June 1892, and whose eldest son, Harcourt James, is the fourth and present baronet.

Lees published several pamphlets, chiefly in support of protestant ascendency. They are distinguished by extreme animation of style. Their titles are: 1. The Antidote, or Nouvelles a la Main. Recommended to the serious attention of the Right Hon. W. C. Plunket and other advocates of unrestricted civil and religious liberty,' Dublin, 1819, 8vo; reprinted with a supplement entitled 'L'Abeja, or a Bee among the Evangelicals.' Dublin, 1820, 8vo. 2. 'Strictures on the Rev. Lieutenant Stennett's Hints to Sir Harcourt Lees by the Anti-Jacobin British Review for September; to which is prefixed A Short Introduction, containing a most important Letter from a Gentleman educated and intended for the Popish Priesthood.' Dublin, 1820, 8vo. 8. 'The Mystery: