George Augustus Lee
Born 1761, died 1826
In 1792 he became a partner in the Salford Engine Twist Company's mill at Salford. The established partners were George and John Philips, Peter Atherton, and Charles Wood.
1797 Address: 39 Broken-bank, Salford [1].
By 1807 the business had become Philips and Lee. Lee ran it until retirement.[2]
1826 He died at his house at Singleton Brook, near Manchester.
George Augustus Lee was a major motivating force behind the development of gas lighting apparatus. He had an avid interest in technology, and had introduced a series of technological innovations at the Salford Mill. These included one of the earliest applications of cast iron frame 'fireproof' construction, steam heating, and gas lighting.
After an initial installation of gaslight at the Soho Foundry in 1803-1804, Boulton and Watt prepared an apparatus for the cotton mill of Philips and Lee in Salford, in 1805-1806. This was to be B&W's only major sale of gas lighting until late 1808.