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LEAN (Falmouth Boatbuilder)
In 1871, W. H. Lean, Boatbuilder and Mayor of Falmouth, a keen yachtsman, addressed a memorial to H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, begging him to become a patron of the proposed club. The favourable reply was dated 3 November, 1971, and, Her Majesty the Queen and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales became patrons of the 15th Royal Yacht Club in Britain, which was duly founded with 47 members in the new year of 1872, with Lord Wodehouse as Commodore. Only 12 of the founding members owned yachts. In addition, the Captain of H.M.S. Ganges, the Commanding Officer of H.M. Coastguard and the Collector of H. M. Customs were elected members during their turn of office. The first regular meeting of the club was held on 10 February, 1872, at the Falmouth Town Hall, then at the top of High Street.
In 1872, William Henry Lean, J. P. and shipbuilder, a founder member of the RCYC, owned two vessels, Anita and Stella, and was listed as residing at 14 Green Bank. [Mead p.199]
FP March 22nd, 1873. Falmouth Harbour Commissioners
A memorial signed by 51 boatmen, objecting to the fares & regulations arrived at by the Harbour Board, was accompanied by a letter signed by Neil Campbell [Quay Punt "Minnie Campbell" ?] on behalf of the other boatmen in which he said, "We have come to the conclusion of not abiding by such rules, fares etc., neither do we wish to have anything to do with your commissioners in any way whatsoever, but retain independent, as before." Mr. Lean tendered his resignation as a commissioner.
[As a boatbuilder dependent upon licenced watermen for his buisness, perhaps?]
FP 4/4/1896: Launch.
On Monday there was launched from the shipbuilding yard of Mr. W. H. Lean, a handsomely modelled wood screw steamer to Class A1 at Lloyds, and of the following dimensions; 69 ft over all, 14ft. 4ins. Beam, and 7 feet draught of water.
She is to be fitted with a pair of compound surface condensing engines, cylinders 11 ½ and 22 by 15 inches stroke, and a steel boiler 7.9 x 8.6 to work at a pressure of 100 lbs to the square inch.
She was christened "Porto di Scio" and is owned by Messrs Papayonni and Jeremias, of Manchester, who are sending her to Turkey for towing purposes.
The vessel will leave this port in about a month's time.
FP 23/5/1896: Trial trip of the wood screw tug "Porto di Scio" ( acheived 10.5 knots) - and, left for Chios in Turkey on Tuesday morning. [19 May]
During September 1899, H. M. S. Ganges left Falmouth, after being in the port for over 30 years. [The log of the three masted Square rigged naval training ship, H.M.S. GANGES; "March 20th 1866, Ganges towed by Gladiator (from Devonport) in afternoon and anchored in St. Just Pool". [Summers, D.L.] [Mead, p.73]
Two founder members of the club died in 1899; W. H. Lean, who died in March aged 74, and T. Webber, who died in December, aged 70. Four months after Lean's death his celebrated local racing cutter, Spinaway, was sold by public auction to a Mr. John Chard (Jnr).
FP 1/4/1899: Death of Mr. W. H. Lean, J. P. (aged 74). For several years he had been a confirmed invalid. A native of Mylor, he was what is popularly known as a "self-made man" and was the architect of his own fortune. By dint of perseverance and pluck he established a position if importance as a shipbuilder. The decline of the local shipping trade owing to the introduction of steam necessarily led to a diminished output of wooden vessels of the type constructed at the yard of the deceased. But rather than dismiss old employees, Mr. Lean commenced building steamers on speculation. By this means continuous employment was afforded to many. That he had fine tastes the interior and exterior of Armyn Villa evidenced. He first took an active interest in local affairs in 1873, in which year he became a member of the Town Council. [within] twelve months he was asked to accept the Chief Magistracy of Falmouth…[etc.]..Mr. Lean was a member of the Lodge Love & Honour, Freemasons, and was a sub-commissioner of pilotage. He leaves a widow but no children.
FP 8/4/1899: Funeral of Mr. W. H. Lean.
Preceding the hearse were the workmen, one man from each department acted as bearers. The flags of a large number of vessels in the harbour were flying half-mast high. The mourners were Mr. John Lean (brother), Mrs. Edmund Harvey (adopted daughter), Miss Carrie Lean (niece), Mr. W. H. Lean (nephew)…