George Cleeve

George Cleeve (c. 1586–after November 1666) was an English early settler and founder of today's Portland, Maine.

He was Deputy President of the Province of Lygonia from 1643 until the final submission of its Maine towns to Massachusetts authority in 1658.

In 1637, Sir Ferdinando Gorges granted Cleeve and associate Richard Tucker 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) at Machegonne (Portland Neck) that included the area of today's downtown Portland.

His career was both contentious and litigious, engaged in frequent land disputes and vying with Gorges' Province of Maine for jurisdiction over the area north of Cape Porpoise.

Under Massachusetts governance of the area, he was Commissioner for Falmouth (from 1658) and Representative to the General Court, 1663–1664.