Lee was a highly accomplished literary man, son of an Amsterdam merchant, who traveled to Ceylon in October 1831, as a member of Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton's staff.
The Colombo Journal was published on 1 January 1832 and printed at the Government Press, with Lee as its editor.
The newspaper was closed by the Colonial Office on 31 December 1833, following its criticism of the British government.
[1][8] They had several children including, Lionel Frederick (1845-1899), who served as the Treasurer of Ceylon; Henry Austin KCMG, CB (1847-1918), who served in the British Diplomatic Service; and Gertrude Fanny (1849-1911), who married Charles Pickering Hayley (the founder of Hayleys).
[1][9] Lee died at his residence, Frogmore, on Guernsey, Channel Islands on 14 September 1860, at the age of 61.