Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Lear, George
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Doylestown A-L


GEORGE LEAR deceased, attorney-at-law and banker, was born 
in Warwick township, Bucks county, February 16, 1818, being 
the son of Robert and Mary (Meloy) Lear.  He was educated at 
the county schools, finishing with a term at the Newtown 
academy.  He was reared on a farm, and at the age of 13 
assumed the responsibility of directing his future unaided 
by any source.  Engaged until nineteen in such pursuits as a 
laborer usually finds in an agricultural community, he then 
became a teacher in the public schools, in which vocation he 
continued four years, when he entered a country store, 
devoting his spare time to the study of the law under the 
preceptorship of E. T. McDowell, of Doylestown, an eminent 
lawyer and a member of the constitutional convention of 
1837-8.  He removed to Doylestown in April, 1844, entered 
the office of his preceptor to continue his legal studies, 
and was admitted to the bar of Bucks county, November 16, 
1844.  In August, 1848, he was appointed deputy 
attorney-general by Honorable James Cooper, was re-appointed 
by Honorable Cornelius Daveagh, his successor, and held the 
position until 1850, when the office of district attorney 
was created and that of deputy attorney-general superseded.  
In March, 1865, he was made president of the Doylestown 
National Bank, but continued in the active practice of his 
profession until his death, May 23, 1884.  He had risen by 
the force of industry and intellect to a proud position 
among his fellows.  He was a member of the constitutional 
convention of 1872-73 from the 7th senatorial district, but 
did not sign his name to or vote for the constitution 
adopted by the convention; while he advocated and sustained 
all the important measures of reform in the convention, he 
believed that the instrument as finally adopted contained 
unwarranted encroachments upon the rights and restrictions 
of the powers of the people.  He was an early and persistent 
advocate of temperance reform and contributed much to 
advance its interests.  In 1875 he was appointed by Governor 
Hartranft attorney-general of the commonwealth.  In this 
capacity he served during Hartranft's term with marked 
ability.  In January, 1845, he married Sidney White, of 
Montgomery county, by whom were three children:  Henry, 
Cordelia and Mary.  The last named married George P. Brock.  
The life and successful career of the subject of this sketch 
are worthy of study and imitation on the part of beginners; 
a demonstration of what ability and industry are capable of 
accomplishing.  He rose to eminence by force of character.   
He has a strong will and indomitable courage.  The elements 
of genius were his in a marked degree.  He had the fancy of 
a poet and the tongue of an orator; more than these, a 
substratum of sound sense.  He had great power before a 
jury.  The people of Bucks county will long bear in 
recollection the bold advocate and faithful counselor.  Nor 
can the host of friends who knew him in life forget the 
genial, honorable, and manly traits that made him the Robert 
Burns of their class.