Sir George Lee collection consists of notes on Admiralty prize cases, 1720 to 1745, on courts martial, 1742 to 1744, on the case of Nuestra Senora de Cabadonga, 1744, and on the impressment of seamen. There are some letters, 1712 to 1758, which include those from Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle (1693-1768), written in 1744.
William Edward Fiott's life is fully covered by this collection, which is composed largely of loose papers These consist of official service documents, material on Walcheren, both his courts martial, papers covering the Renegade period and a log, 1823 to 1824. There are extensive papers and volumes for the period when he was merchant ship master and owner, including legal agreements, crew lists and account and freight books. Finally, there are private letters received, 1809 and 1848, and yearly diaries, 1837 to 1847.
John (Fiott) Lee, collection consist of forty-three letters written to Lee by Rear-Admiral Sir John Ross (1777-1856) and some papers, mainly printed, relating to the organization of the Felix expedition of 1850 to 1851 in search of Sir John Franklin (q.v.). The earlier letters refer to this voyage, which was unsuccessful in finding Franklin. The later letters contain many references to Ross's participation in scientific societies, and in particular to the British Association for the Advancement of Science. There are critical comments on the official expeditions searching for Franklin. The letters also deal with the translation and publication in 1856 of a Memoir of the Russian circumnavigator Admiral Krusenstern (1770-1846). There are many references to events in and around Ross's home town of Stranraer.

Administrative / biographical background
See sub-collection records.