George Steel of Lincoln, mercer and draper.

Born at Scottlethorpe, Lincolnshire, in about 1772, son of the second John Steel. Died 18 November 1858 at his house at 3 Grecian Terrace, Lincoln, and buried in the Canwick Road cemetery there. Became a mercer and draper in Lincoln, initially with his brother John.

At his residence, Grecian-terrace, Lincoln, on the evening of Thursday the 18th inst., aged 87, George Steel, Esq., a gentleman for many years highly esteemed in the city, and who had twice filled the office of Mayor of Lincoln in the time of the Old Corporation. The deceased was formerly an extensive draper on the premises now occupied by Mr. John Smith, the City Sheriff, and was ever noted for his quiet demeanour and gentlemanly bearing to all classes of the community. Lincolnshire Chronicle, 26 November 1858

WANTED IMMEDIATELY, AN ASSISTANT to a MERCER, LINEN and WOOLLEN DRAPER, by Messrs. JOHN and GEORGE STEEL, Lincoln. N. B. AN APPRENTICE wanted. Stamford Mercury, 5 April 1799

To SOLD by AUCTION, On THURSDAY the 30th of April Instant, between the Hours of five and seven in the Afternoon, at the Rein Deer Inn the said City ; A VERY DESIRABLE DWELLINGHOUSE, in complete Repair, adjoining the Rein Deer Inn, near the Stone Bow; consisting of excellent Shop, Sitting-room, a pleasant Dining-room, five Chambers, four Garrets, a good Kitchen, Cellar, Ground Cistern, and other Conveniences, late in the Occupation of Messrs. JOHN and GEORGE STEEL, Mercers and Drapers, of whom other Particulars may be had. *** Any Part of the purchase Money may remain on Security of the Premises Stamford Mercury, 10 April 1801

GEORGE STEEL, Mercer, Linen and Woollen Draper, begs most respectfully to return thanks to his friends and the public in general for the many favors conferred upon him for upwards of twenty years, and hopes, by a strict attention to business, to merit their future favors. G. S. takes this opportunity of informing his friends he is commencing Dealer FOREIGN and BRITISH SPIRITS, and hopes, by keeping a superior article, to share the favors of a kind and discerning public. Stamford Mercury, 21 January 1825

MRS. PRESTON, the Executrix of the Will of the late Mr. Preston, of Lincoln, Wine and Spirit Merchant, feels it her duty to make her grateful acknowledgments to the friends of her late Son for the many and esteemed favors which he received at their hands; she begs at the same time to state, that she has disposed of the Stock of Foreign and British Spirits to Mr. George Steel, in whose favour she ventures to solicit their support. GEORGE STEEL, having taken the Stock of the late Mr. Preston, and secured a future supply of Foreign and British Spirits of the first quality, hopes he will be deemed worthy of the confidence of the late Mr. Preston's friends, and of that public to which he is already so largely indebted. Stamford Mercury, 4 February 1825

MUCH-LANE, CITY of LINCOLN. GEORGE STEEL, Dealer in Foreign and British Spirits, feels great pleasure in returning his most grateful acknowledgments to his friends and the public for the encouragement which he has met with since he entered into the above business, and begs to acquaint them that he will continue to serve them on the most liberal terms. Stamford Mercury, 28 November 1828

He seems to have worked his way up the city hierarchy, culminating in being Mayor twice. Elected Sheriff 15 September 1802; Alderman 18 September 1810, and Mayor 28 September 1810 and again on 14 September 1820. A J.P. for the City of Lincoln in 1831 and 1836.

Married by licence at Balderton, Nottinghamshire, on 5 June 1804 to Eleanor Harvey. She was buried 30 October 1833 at Lincoln St. Swithin's, having survived this in 1820:

The Coronation of his Majesty, we regret to say, was not celebrated in this city with that unanimity which ought to have distinguished so great a festival. The morning was ushered in with the ringing of bells; the shops were partially closed, and the Town-hall was decorated with oak and colours. In the forenoon the children of the National School, 430 in number, went in procession through the city, preceded by the Waits and Mayor's Officers; after which they were very liberally regaled in the school-room, which was decorated for the occasion. 407lbs. of excellent plum pudding and 243lbs. of beef were consumed on this occasion; as also 20 pecks of potatoes, 8 stone of bread, and 2 hogsheads of beer; and every child (they having brought their own plates, knives, and forks) carried home an additional plateful out of the surplus of the feast. The expense of the whole was collected at a very short notice among the visitors and a few other friends of the school.—The Staff of the North Lincoln Militia fired three vollies on the Cornhill; where a mob assembled, and behaved in the most insulting manner, drowning the orders to the soldiers with loud cries of " the Queen," groans and hisses, and personal reflections upon the Adjutant, which occasioned at the time very considerable disorder. Afterwards, about 80 gentlemen dined at the Rein Deer Inn. In the evening, about 9 o'clock, the mob again assembled, opposite the said Inn, composed principally of watermen and other unruly characters, and provided with a bag (intended to be green) filled with the dirt of the street, which they threw amongst the passengers, and others who had assembled for curiosity. The Mayoress (Mrs. Steel) and a young lady, who were passing to the ball, were sufferers in this most daring and disgraceful outrage, having large quantities of the filth thrown upon them. The attack of the unmanly ruffians was pointedly directed against the former lady, who sustained considerable injury.— They next demolished the windows of the inn, throwing stones among the gentlemen, and insulting them with the grossest language. As the police were not in attendance, and could not be collected, the gentlemen sallied forth among the mob, and endeavoured to secure some of the most riotous; but having indulged themselves pretty liberally with wine, unsuspicious that the harmony of the meeting would be disturbed by such miscreants, their conduct was only the means of further irritation. They eventually, however, succeeded in securing two of the principal offenders. Between 10 and 11 o'clock the mob became more violent, and continued throwing stones. At this juncture the Staff of the North Lincoln Militia and the Recruiting Party came up, having been partaking of the festivities of the day: a part of the police being also there in readiness, the Riot Act was read in front the Rein Deer. The mob still persisting in assailing the inn, the Mayor ordered military to clear the street; which had the desired effect.—In the charges that were made upon the people, several persons were wounded, and we regret to state that the aggressors were not the only sufferers. At the time the Riot Act was read, it is supposed there were not present more than 30 or 40 of the villains who caused the affray: as sneaking and cowardly as licentious and disloyal, they had fled when danger to themselves appeared, and the principal part of those who remained were persons anxious only to see the issue of the affair.—The laxity of the police on this occasion has been strongly reprobated; timely energy on their part would have prevented the more serious portion of what occurred; and it is hoped that at length some steps will be taken for placing the police on a more respectable and efficient footing.— The names of the men in custody are Jenks and Sampson, both laborers and well-known characters in this city. The former has entered into recognizance for his appearance at the sessions, and the latter is committed till that time. The Mayoress, we are happy to hear, is recovered from the injury she received, though she was for few days confined by it to her room. Stamford Mercury, Friday 27 July 1821

Issue four sons and four daughters:

Married secondly at St. Mary Magdalene, Lincoln, on 19 April 1838, to Jane Brocklesby, eldest daughter of Captain William Brocklesby.