William Lees

Who is William Lees?

William Lees was an Ontario farmer, merchant and political figure. He represented Lanark South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as an independent Conservative and then a Conservative from 1879 to 1890.

He was born in Bathurst Township, Lanark County, Upper Canada in 1821, the son of Scottish immigrants. He began work as a farmer, later building a sawmill and a gristmill. He was named a justice of the peace in 1852. Lees served on the township countil, also serving as reeve and county warden. He also served as captain in the local militia. Lees was a Third Degree member of the local Masonic lodge. He married Mary Playfair, then Margaret Ward and later Annie Irvine Laurie.

One of his daughters married Peter McLaren, who later served in the Senate.