Nelson Lee

Richard Nelson Lee, known as Nelson Lee (8 January 1806 – 2 January 1872) was an English actor, theatre manager and writer of pantomimes and plays. Life 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. His father was Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Lee, of the 63rd Regiment of Foot. He played as an amateur actor in Deptford, and learnt acting and juggling among travelling fairs in London. He was in what was called "utility" business at the old Royalty Theatre, practised legerdemain, and accompanied on tour Gyngell, a professional conjurer. Lee joined in 1827 Robert William Elliston in his final occupancy of the Surrey Theatre. At the Surrey, under different managers, he remained for seven years, playing Harlequin in the Christmas pantomimes, which he wrote after Elliston's departure. 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. In 1836 he managed Sadler's Wells Theatre.