Alexander Lean (21 May 1824 – 20 November 1893) was a New Zealand runholder, architect, military volunteer and musician. He was born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, England on 21 May 1824. His most valuable contribution as an architect were the Christchurch

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

buildings, which were progressively demolished between 1974 and 1985. In 1853, Lean was the original purchaser of land at the bottom of Rapaki Track next to the

Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River The Ōpāwaho / Heathcote River lies within the city boundaries of Christchurch, New Zealand, and is fed from springs near Templeton Road, with a catchment area in wet weather extending as far west as Yaldhurst and Pound Road. It meanders around t ...

, which he called Riverlaw. He sold this land in 1859 to Michael le Fleming and with an additional intermittent owner, the property was purchased by

Hugh Murray-Aynsley Hugh Percy Murray–Aynsley (8 October 1828 – 22 February 1917) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand. Early life Murray-Aynsley was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1828. His father was John Murray-Aynsley (17 ...

in 1862. Lean acted as the

returning officer In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies. Australia In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a state electoral c ...

for the Christchurch electorate in the when he suddenly died on 20 November 1893 in Christchurch. He is buried at St Peter's in Upper Riccarton.

References

1824 births 1893 deaths New Zealand farmers New Zealand musicians New Zealand military personnel Architects from London People from Christchurch English emigrants to New Zealand Burials at St Peter's Church Cemetery, Upper Riccarton 19th-century New Zealand architects {{NewZealand-mil-bio-stub