William E. Lee

William E. Lee
c. 1897
21st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office
1893–1895
Preceded byEzra T. Champlin
Succeeded bySamuel R. Van Sant
Personal details
Born(1852-01-08)January 8, 1852
DiedNovember 16, 1920(1920-11-16) (aged 68)
PartyRepublican
ProfessionBanker

William Edwin Lee (January 8, 1852 – November 16, 1920) was a Minnesota politician and Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Biography

William E. Lee was born in Alton, Illinois on January 8, 1852.[1]

He first served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1885 to 1889, and was sent back to the body from 1893 to 1895. He was elected Speaker of the House during his second tenure in office.[2] In 1896 he ran for governor, but was defeated in the Republican primary by incumbent David Marston Clough. He twice attempted to primary governor Adolph Olson Eberhart, first in 1912. In 1914, he was victorious in the Republican primary, but lost the general election.

He died from liver cancer at his home in Long Prairie, Minnesota on November 16, 1920.[3]

References

  1. ^ Shutter, Marion D.; McLaine, J. S., eds. (1897). "Progressive Men of Minnesota". The Minneapolis Journal. pp. 224–225. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Minnesota Legislators Past and Present
  3. ^ "William E. Lee, Once Speaker of House, Dies". Star Tribune. November 17, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.