Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lee, Matthew

1423219Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 32 — Lee, Matthew1892Gordon Goodwin

LEE, MATTHEW, M.D. (1694–1766), benefactor to Christ Church, Oxford, born in Northamptonshire in 1694, was the son of William Lee. In 1709 he was admitted on the foundation at Westminster School, and was elected to Christ Church in 1713. He contributed to the Oxford poems on the death of Dr. Radcliffe in 1716. He graduated B.A. in 1717, M.A. in 1720, M.B. in 1722, and M.D. in 1726. For some years he practised medicine successfully at Oxford, but about 1730 settled in London. He was admitted a candidate of the Royal College of Physicians on 12 April 1731 and a fellow on 8 April 1732. He was censor in 1734 and Harveian orator in 1736. His oration was published during the same year. In 1789 he was appointed physician to Frederick, prince of Wales. He died on 26 Sept. 1766 and was buried in the church of Little Linford, Buckinghamshire (Lipscomb, Buckinghamshire, iv. 233). By his wife, Sarah, youngest daughter of John Knapp, he had no children. His bust is in the library at Christ Church. In 1760 Lee founded an anatomical lectureship at Christ Church, which he endowed with an annual stipend of 140l.; he also gave money for building an anatomy school, and for converting the old library into rooms (Wood, Colleges and Halls, ed. Gutch, iii. 456, 461). He likewise bequeathed a sum of money for the establishment of exhibitions at Westminster School.

[Welch's Alumni Westmon. 1862, pp. 251, 259; Munk's Coll. of Phys. 1878, ii. 55-6, 119-21.]

G. G.