By his own account, Lee was born in Kew on 8 January 1806; it was the day of Nelson's public funeral, a circumstance to which he owed his second name.
He was in what was called "utility" business at the old Royalty Theatre, practised legerdemain, and accompanied on tour Gyngell, a professional conjurer.
For Yates and Mathews at the Adelphi Theatre he is said to have written in 1834 the pantomime Oranges and Lemons, in which in the course of one week he was seen as clown, Harlequin, and Pantaloon.
[2] In connection with John Johnson, Lee managed the Marylebone, the Pavilion, the Standard, and finally the City of London Theatre, the direction of which they retained for fifteen years.
After Johnson's death in 1864 Lee remained in management until 1867, when he retired, and afterwards confined his attention to miscellaneous entertainments at the Crystal Palace or elsewhere.