Notable South Australians/Richard Egan Lee
Richard Egan Lee,
ONE of the most versatile of Australian litterateurs. A native of New South Wales, he early made his mark as a compositor in that colony, whilst his contributions to the press in prose and verse had many readers. His happiest efforts were in the comic vein, and he possessed wit and humour in the highest degree. He was of respectable parentage, and at different times occupied responsible and important positions in connection with journalism. He was also returned as one of the representatives in Parliament for the Lachlan district. Somewhat Bohemian in tastes, Mr. Lee was nevertheless respected, not only by members of the "craft" to which he belonged, but by all who had the honour of his acquaintance. After a somewhat chequered career in Victoria, in which colony he was the proprietor and editor of a weekly newspaper, he came to Adelaide, landing here in 1877. From this period he was associated with the press of the city, and his contributions to country and inter-colonial journals were very voluminous. Some of his comic pieces in the Lantern and Punch would have done credit to the genius of a Hood or Smollett, and it can hut he regretted that their author was, by an anonymous nom de plume, comparatively unknown to the public. Mr. Lee was modest and retiring, and this possibly caused him to defer any appeal to friends to assist him in the distressing circumstances in which for some months prior to his death he existed. He was a sufferer from consumption and an internal complaint, and these ultimately carried him off at the early age of 38 years. His death took place in Adelaide, April 1, 1883.