Biography

Thomas Lee was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in about 1822. His family had a history of circus and fairground performance of over 200 years, and as a child Thomas was connected with Cooke’s Circus, and over the course of many years travelled through England’s northern provinces. He went on to be a star performer of London’s Astley’s Amphitheatre, an equestrian, gymnast and exponent of the somersault.

In 1844 Thomas married Emma Cooke, his employer’s sister, at Gretna Green. In 1851 he was living at Brighton, Sussex, with his wife and their two children.

By 1854 Thomas’s brothers had left England for America, and Thomas went with his family to Australia. He performed at Melbourne’s own Astley’s Amphitheatre with Pablo Fanque and others, and as a pantomime artist at Cremorne Gardens.

Thomas Lee’s wife, known professionally as Madame Lee, was an accomplished equestrian, dancer and tightrope perfomer. She directed her children, known as the Petite Troupe, in dancing (advertised as the youngest ballet troupe in the colonies) and pantomime performances. There were at least five children, of whom at least one was performing at the age of two. Madame Lee taught riding and directed a dancing academy, and for about a year ran a waxworks in Bourke Street, Melbourne, where the children performed.

By 1857 Thomas Lee was no longer prominent as a performer, and he became involved in horse breeding and racing. The family went through difficult times, and Madame Lee with her children accepted an engagement in India, where they worked as pantomime artists and dancers. Thomas was apparently too ill to accompany them, and he stayed in Victoria. His eldest daughter, Jane, died in Calcutta in 1867.

Thomas Lee arrived in Dunedin in about 1866. In his last years he was described as” leading a chequered life”, the meaning of which is now unclear. He died of lung fibrosis and pneumonia at Dunedin Hospital on 24th July 1878, at the age of 56 years, and was buried here in the cemetery. Hayes and Benhamos Grand International Circus Company was in Dunedin at the time of Thomas Lee’s death, and the proprietors sent a cheque to cover the funeral expenses.

Prepared for the Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust by David Murray, Hocken Library Archivist, using the following sources:

Frost, Thomas. Circus Life and Circus Celebrities.1881.

Phelan, Regina V. The Gold Chain: A California Family Saga.1987

Theatrical Times (London), May 28th 1848

Argus (Melbourne)

Evening Star (Dunedin)

Star (Christcurch)

UK Census, 1851

Marriage Notices, Wigtownshire Free Press.