Charles Lees (colonial administrator)

Sir Charles Cameron Lees (11 March 1837 – 26 July 1898) was a British military officer and colonial administrator.

He was the son of John Campbell Lees, former Chief Justice of the Bahamas.



He was originally commissioned into the 1st West India Regiment, but transferred to the 76th Foot in 1854, was promoted lieutenant, and transferred to the 23rd Foot as adjutant in 1858. He resigned as adjutant in 1864 and retired in 1866, becoming adjutant of the 3rd Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers later that year.

Lees was acting governor of the Gold Coast in 1874, 1876 and 1878–79, Governor of Labuan 1879-1881, Governor of the Bahamas from 1881 to 1884, and Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1884 to 1885. He was 16th Governor of Mauritius from 21 December 1889 to 12 March 1892 and was Governor of British Guiana from 1893 to 1895.

In 1875, he married Maria Ledwell Nugent daughter of Sir Oliver Nugent of Antigua. Lees is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.