L’ESTRANGE, SIR ROGER, second son of Sir Hamon L’Estrange, Kt, Hunstanton, Norfolk, and Alice, dau. of Richard Stubbe, Sedgeford, Norfolk; b. 17 Dec 1616; at school under Osbaldeston one year, having previously been two years at Eton (Sidney Sussex Coll. Camb. admissions); Sidney Sussex Coll. Cambridge, adm. fellow commoner 6 Nov 1634; adm. Gray’s Inn 6 Feb 1636/7; an ardent royalist; formed a plan for the recapture of King’s Lynn from Parliament in 1644, but was caught and sentenced to death; escapred from Newgate 1648 and attempted to start a royalist rising in Kent, but had to flee to Netherlands; returned to England 1653; published a number of anonymous broadsides attacking Lambert and the leaders of the army in 1659; after the Restoration vehemently denounced the liberty of the press, and was appointed Surveyor of “The Imprimery” 15 Aug 1663; started two weekly news sheets, The Intelligencer and The News; became notorious for the severity of his literary censorship and for his vigilance in the suppression of unlicenced presses; endeavoured to disprove the existence of the Popish Plot, but had to flee the country Nov 1680 and was burnt in effigy by a London mob; returned to England Feb 1681; started The Observator in Question and Answer, dealing unsparingly with dissenters and Whigs, Apr 1681; MP Winchester 1685-7; knighted 30 Apr 1685; deprived of his office of licenser at the revolution of 1688; committed to prison for short periods 1688, 1691, 1696; author, The Fables of Aesop and Other Mythologists with Moral Reflections, 1692, The Works of Flavius Josephus compared with the Original Greek, 1702, and other works; m. Mary, dau. of Sir Thomas Doleman, Kt, Shaw, Berks.; d. 11 Dec 1704. DNB.
LAMB, SIR JAMES BLAND, BART., only son of George Burges (qv); b. 8 Jun 1752; adm. (after two sessions at Edinburgh Univ. ) 30 Jun 1767; left Dec 1769; University Coll. Oxford, matr. 7 Jan 1770; Grand Tour (France) 1771, (Italy) 1773-4; adm. Lincoln’s Inn 28 Sep 1769, called to bar 16 Apr 1777; a Commissioner of Bankrupts (occurs in annual lists 1778-83); MP Helston Jan 1787-90; a supporter of Warren Hastings (qv) in the early stages of his impeachment; Under-Secretary, Foreign Office 1789-95; one of Commissioners of Privy Seal Jul – Nov 1794; created baronet 21 Oct 1795; Knight Marshal, Royal Household, from 10 Nov 1795; assumed surname of Lamb in lieu of Burges 25 Oct 1821; author of poems, plays, tales and epigrams; a founder, The Sun newspaper; m. 1st, 19 Jun 1777 Hon. Elizabeth Noel, second dau. of Edward Noel, 1st Viscount Wentworth; m. 2nd, 16 Dec 1780 Anne, third dau. of Lieut. -Col. Louis Charles Montolieu, Baron de Saint Hypolite, 2nd Troop Horse Guards; m. 3rd, 1 Sep 1812 Lady Margaret Lindsay, widow of Alexander Fordyce, London, banker, and dau. of James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres (S); d. 11 Oct 1824. DNB.
LAMB, THOMAS DAVIS, eldest son of Thomas Phillipps Lamb MP, Rye, Sussex, and Elizabeth Dorothy, dau. of William [or Daniel ?] Davis, Rye, Sussex; bap 11 Aug 1775; adm. 18 Jun 1788; one of Southey’s “most intimate associates” at school (Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, I, 154; cf. Reminiscences of Oxford, Oxford Historical Society Pub., xxii, 403-8); Christ Church, Oxford, matr. 11 Dec 1793; adm. Middle Temple 14 Dec 1795; Private Secretary to Lord Hawkesbury when Foreign Secretary Feb 1801 – Jul 1802; MP Rye 1802 – Mar 1806; Law Clerk, Home Office, from Mar 1806; a Commissioner of Taxes from 13 Dec 1806; d. unm. 13 May 1818.
LAMBTON, JOHN, fifth son of Ralph Lambton, Barnes, co. Durham, and Dorothy, dau. of John Hedworth, Harraton, co. Durham; b. 26 Jul 1710; adm. (aged 15) Mar 1725/6 (as John Lampton); in under school list 1727 (probably left 1727); Ensign, 2nd Foot Guards 12 Oct 1732; Lieut., 9 Jul 1739; Capt. and Lieut. -Col., 24 Jan 1746; Col., 22 Apr. 1758; Col., 68th Foot, from 28 Apr 1758; Maj. -Gen., 26 Feb 1761; Lieut. -Gen., 30 Apr 1770; Gen., 20 Nov 1782; inherited Lambton estates on death of elder brother 1761; MP Durham May 1762 – Jan 1787; m. 5 Sep 1763 Lady Susan Lyon, dau. of Thomas Lyon, 8th Earl of Strathmore (S); d. 22 Mar 1794. DNB.
LAWLEY, SIR ROBERT, BART., only son of Sir Robert Lawley, Bart., and Elizabeth, eldest dau. of Sir Lambert Blackwell, Bart., MP; bap 22 Mar 1735/6; adm. Sep 1748 (Watts'); in school list 1752; Emmanuel Coll. Cambridge, adm. fellow commoner 5 Apr 1753; succ. father as 5th baronet 28 Nov 1779; MP Warwickshire from 1780; of Canwell Priory, Staffs.; m. 11 Aug 1764 Jane, only dau. of Beilby Thompson, Escrick, Yorks.; d. 1 Mar 1793.
LECHMERE, EDMUND, only son of Anthony Lechmere MP, Hanley Castle, Worcs., and Anne, dau. of Thomas Foley, Stoke Edith, Worcs.; b. 4 Apr 1710; adm. (aged 10) Jul 1720 (Christian name misread as Edward by Russell Barker & Stenning); in under school list 1724; left 1724; subsequently at school at Fulham, Middlesex (Mr. Lewis Vaslet); Trinity Coll. Cambridge 1728 [check]; of Hanley Castle, Worcs.; High Sheriff, Worcestershire 1732; MP Worcestershire 1734-47; m. 1st, 12 Oct 1732 Elizabeth, dau. of Sir Blunden Charlton, Bart., Ludford, Herefs.; m. 2nd, 4 Jun 1765 Elizabeth, dau. of Rev. John Whitmore, Vicar of Lechlade, Gloucs.; d. 29 Mar 1805.
LEE, GEORGE HENRY, 3rd EARL OF LICHFIELD, eldest son of George Henry Lee, 2nd Earl of Lichfield, and Frances, dau. of Sir John Hales, Bart., and half-sister of James Hales (qv); b. 21 May 1718; adm. Feb 1727/8; spoke his verses in College Hall at the Westminster Feast of 1734/5 “extremely well” (HMC Report ix, appendix ii, 465); left 1735; St. John’s Coll. Oxford, matr. 1 Jan 1735/6; MA 14 Feb 1737/8; DCL 25 Aug 1743 and by diploma 27 Sep 1762; Grand Tour (Italy) 1739-40; MP Oxfordshire Feb 1739/40 – 13 Feb 1742/3; succ. father as 3rd Earl of Lichfield 13 Feb 1742/3; a Lord of the Bedchamber 11 Dec 1760 – Jul 1762, Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners from 17 Jul 1762; Privy Councillor 14 Jul 1762; High Steward, Oxford Univ. 1760-2, Chancellor from 1762; founded by bequest the Lichfield Clinical Professorship, Oxford Univ.; member, Society of Dilettanti 1740/1; DL Oxfordshire 1763; FSA 26 Nov 1767; m. 16 Jan 1744/5 Dinah, dau. of Sir Thomas Frankland, Bart. MP; d. 19 Sep 1772. DNB.
LEE, JOHN LEE, eldest surviving son of William Hanning (qv); b. 11 Dec 1802; adm. 20 Jan 1813; Min. Can. 1817; left 12 Dec 1817; Christ Church, Oxford, matr. 10 Feb 1821; adm. Middle Temple 20 Jun 1823; assumed surname of Lee in lieu of Hanning 21 Mar 1825; MP (Whig) Wells 1830-7; DL JP Sopmerset, High Sheriff1845; m. 1st, 18 Feb 1834 Jessy Edwards, third dau. of John Edwards Vaughan MP, Rheola, Glamorgan; m. 2nd, 17 Aug 1841 Hon. Maria Sophia Hood, eldest dau. of Samuel Hood, 2nd Baron Bridport (I); d. 16 Aug 1874.
LEE-ANTONIE, WILLIAM, only son of William Lee FRS MP, Totteridge Park, Herts., and Philadelphia, sister of Sir John Dixon Dyke, Bart. (qv); b. 24 Feb 1764; adm. 2 Jun 1774; assumed additional surname of Antonie in pursuance of will of Richard Antonie, Colworth, Sharnbrook, Beds.; MP Great Marlow 1790-6, Bedford 1802-12; d. 11 Sep 1815.
LEGGE, GEORGE, 1ST BARON DARTMOUTH, eldest son of William Legge, Lieut. -Gen. of the Ordnance and Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles II, and Elizabeth, eldest dau. of Sir William Washington, Packington, Leics.; b. 1648; at school under Busby (HMC xi, app. v, iv); King’s Coll. Cambridge, adm. fellow commoner Lent 1664; served with his cousin, Sir Edward Spragge, as volunteer and Lieut., Royal Navy, in second Dutch war 1665-7; Capt., 1667; took part in battle of Solebay 28 May 1672; Page of Honour to Charles II 11 Nov 1668 – Jun 1678, Extra Groom of the Bedchamber 12 Apr 1676 – 6 Feb 1685; MP Ludgershall Feb 1672/3-9, Portsmouth 1679-81; Groom of the Bedchamber and subsequently Master of the Horse to James, Duke of York (the future James II); Lieut. -Governor, Portsmouth 1670-82; Lieut. -Gen. of the Ordnance 22 Apr 1679 (under reversionary grant of 7 Dec 1672) – Jan 1682, Master-Gen. 28 Jan 1681/2 – Apr 1689; commanded forces at Nieuwpoort, Flanders, with rank of Col. in the Army, 1678; Privy Councillor 3 Mar 1681/2; created Baron Dartmouth 2 Dec 1682; Master of Trinity House 11 Jun 1683-5; commanded Tangier expedition 1683-4; Master of the Horse 13 Apr 1685 – Dec 1688; Constable of the Tower 1685-9; Lord Lieut., Tower Hamlets 29 Jun 1685 – 8 Apr 1689; appointed by James II as Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet 2 Oct 1688, with instructions to prevent Dutch ships from approaching British coasts; dismissed by William III 10 Jan 1688/9; committed to Tower of London for conspiring against William III Jul 1691; m. Barbara, dau. of Sir Henry Archbold LLD, Registrar and Chancellor to Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry; d. in Tower of London of a fit of apoplexy 25 Oct 1691. DNB.