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 city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

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

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. 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

Rāpaki Te Rāpaki-o-Te Rakiwhakaputa, commonly known as Rāpaki or Rapaki, is a small settlement within the Lyttelton Harbour basin. Rāpaki is one of four Banks Peninsula rūnanga (communities) based around marae (tribal meeting grounds). The Rāpak ...

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 aroun ...

, 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 (179 ...

in 1862. Lean acted as the returning officer 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 Architects from London English emigrants to New Zealand New Zealand farmers New Zealand musicians 19th-century New Zealand military personnel Architects from Christchurch 19th-century New Zealand architects Burials at St Peter's Church Cemetery, Upper Riccarton {{NewZealand-mil-bio-stub