Richard henry lee died at his home, chantilly, virginia, in 1794, in his early sixties. He was born at stratford hall, which was the home of richard henry lee and francis lightfoot lee, both of whom signed the declaration. Light horse harry lee revolutionary war and beyond. Fearing undue centralization of power, he was among those who fought against the constitution, ultimately leading the campaign that. Henry lee, general lees greatgrandfather, was the fifth son of richard lee, the scholar, by his wife letitia corbin, herself a wellborn woman of. Lee is one of the figures depicted in basrelief carved into stone mountain near atlanta. A member of virginias house of burgesses, lee also served as a u. In the 1969 musical 1776 lees nickname is mentioned anachronistically during the song the lees of old virginia, sung by the character of his older cousin richard henry lee. He retired from that office to his home in chantilly due to illness, and soon after died at the age of 62.
Robert bruce, to express much in a few words, was undoubtedly, in every point of view, a great man, and one to whom, from the heroic ages even to. The lee family digital archive lfda, now housed at stratford hall, is an online repository of the collected papers of the lee family of virginia. Richard lee i c 161617 1664, later nicknamed the immigrant was the first member of the lee family to live in america. That being the era of the french and indian war, lee formed a militia troop of young men in his neighborhood, was elected the leader, and marched his troop to a council in alexandria where general. Richard henry lee robert e lee s brother 82199 hi, henry lee jr. Signer of the declaration of independence from virginia. Richard henry lee is credited as the federal farmer, though there is an extensive footnote acknowledging that some believe melancton smith to be the farmer with an explanation as to why unger believes the farmer to be lee. His father, grandfather and four brothers all served as military officers, diplomats and legislators.
Charles edward stuart stratfords former owner, his daughter elizabeth betty stuart, and granddaughters elizabeth betsy stuart valentine and anne. Henry lee united states military officer britannica. The american museum or repository of ancient and modern fugitive pieces, etc. From this marriage sprung robert edward lee, the illustrious confederate commander, the seventeenth in descent from king robert the bruce, of scotland.
Virginia magazine of history and biography 84 october 1976. On june 11, thomas jefferson, john adams, benjamin franklin, roger sherman, and robert r. Lee was born to an aristocratic family at stratford, in westmoreland county, virginia. He served as attorney general of the colony in 1643, secretary of the colony in. The lee family of the united states is a historically significant virginia and maryland political. Wounded at kernstown, va, bearing the fallen flag to the front. Grandson of richard henry lee, mover of the declaration of independence in the continental congress. General robert e lee and henry harry lee are both decendants of richard henry lee, i the imigrant, and son of john lee. Richard henry lee january 20, 1732 june 19, 1794 was an american statesman from virginia best known for the motion in the second continental congress calling for the colonies\ independence from great britain. Richard henry lee, john adams, and the virginia constitution of 1776. Richard lee i 1617 1664, later nicknamed the immigrant was the first member of the lee family to live in america. Letter to edmund randolph with objections to the constitution. Mcgaughy does a fine job of his research and presents lee in a favorable light.
His mother was an aunt of the wife of virginia governor thomas nelson, jr. Stuart family members that have served on stratfords board include. Lee memorial associations bylaws allow for a stuart family member on its board of directors. General henry lee iii, light horse harry, also served as governor of virginia. The lee family of virginia united states american history. Henrys home was lee hall, a potomac river estate near stratford. By the time of his death, lee was the largest landholder in virginia, with,000 acres, and perhaps the richest. Library of congress, prints and photographs division. Lee and the author of the resolution passed by congress upon the death of george washington containing the celebrated apothegm first in war, first in peace. Lees branch of the family where his grandparents, henry lee ii and lucy grymes lie buried. Born into one of the most prominent families in the colony on january 20, 1732, lee was bred to a political life, serving in the virginia house of burgesses during the stamp act and nonimportation crises, helping convey his state into the revolutionary camp. His father was the first cousin of richard henry lee, twelfth president of the continental congress.
Henry lee iii, better known as light horse harry lee, was one of the many heroes of the revolutionary war. Accompanying him on horseback in the relief are stonewall jackson and jefferson davis. Richard henry lee was a delegate to continental congress from virginia and. Lee was born near dumfries in the colony of virginia.
Richard henry lee papers american philosophical society. Leeindeed, before washington, jefferson, franklin or john adamsthere was richard henry lee, our nations first. Richard henry lee was a scion of one of virginiasindeed, one of north americaswealthiest and most powerful families, a fabled dynasty akin to europes medici, habsburgs, or rothschilds. Before marrying harrys father, lucy was pursued by. He served as confederate general in the united states civil war and later as president of washington and lee university, which was named for him and for george washington. Lee is one of two statues the other is washington representing virginia in statuary hall in the capitol in washington, d. Henry and his wife mary bland were the parents of four children. He was a signatory to the articles of confederation and his famous resolution of june 1776 led to the united states declaration of independence, which lee signed. Richard henry lee was a delegate at the second continental congress from virginia. Elizabeth jane lee is a descendant of hugh lee, i and his son of blackwater river, virginia. The elder henrys son and namesake was a burgess along with his cousins, and emerged as a patriot during the stamp act crisis.
About richard henry lee, ii esquire notes for richard henry lee. Two other women, elizabeth steptoe and anne washington. Richard henry lee was born on january 20, 1732, at stratford hall in westmoreland, virginia. Richard henry lee, a descendant from an ancient and distinguished family in virginia, was born in westmoreland county, of that province, on january 20, 1732, two years before another brother, francis lightfoot lee, who also signed the declaration of independence. Lees life and accomplishments and as a result the reader is left thoroughly. Also he was a cousin of light horse harry lee and robert e. Richard henry lee was a planter, merchant, politician, and a member of the prominent lee family of virginia. Richard henry lee spent most of his life in buckingham county, virginia. He was the one to make the formal proposal of independence from england to the congress. Lee opposed the federal constitution, as he favored strong state rights.
Richard henry lee christian heritage fellowship, inc. Henry lee ii 17301787 of leesylvania and lucy grymes 17341792. Richard henry lee 17321794 was a justice of the peace for westmoreland. A politician and arch revolutionary, richard henry lee was an impassioned supporter of american independence from the mid1760s. Civil war is the 1st cousin 2 times removed to richard henry lee signer of the declaration of independence via their common ancestor of richard lee ii. The lee of the rock gave us some protection against the storm. The estate was sold to henry fairfax in 1825, whose family lived there in a home which may have predated the lee residence. An active participant in many key events in the revolutionary war, lee protested the stamp act in virginia 1765, sat on the committee that named. Richard henry lee robert e lees brother 82199 hi, henry lee jr. He attended a private school in england, returning to virginia in 1751. Richard henry lee 17321794 was an orator and a leader of the american revolution, and the primary individual who introduced the independence resolution into the continental congress. Lee was a lawyer, planter, soldier, politician, and member of the virginia house of burgesses. During his transaction records, he was referred to as a planter and as esquire.
Mcgaughys biography of richard henry lee looks beyond the traditional reputation in search of the true lee. Richard henry lees role in the conway cabal against washington is downplayed to the point of denial. Son of thomas lee, richard henry lee pursued his fathers interest in westward expansion and was a key political figure during the american revolution 17751783. Civil war is the 1st cousin 2 times removed to richard henry lee signer of the. The continental congress was in a deadlock for independence. Lee 18071870, was the son of henry lee iii, and probably the most famous member of the lee family. Richard henry lee the society of the descendants of the. Col richard henry lee 18211902 find a grave memorial. Richard henry lee was a signer of the declaration of independence. He was however elected the first state senator from virginia under the new federal government. Majorgeneral henry lee iii january 29, 1756 march 25, 1818 was an early american patriot and politician. His greatgrandmother mary bland was also a grandaunt of. Richard henry lee was a man of stature in his community. A biography of richard henry lee 17321794 lee was a confederate general who led the souths attempt at secession during the civil war.
Richard henry lee january 20, 1732 june 19, 1794 was an american statesman and founding father from virginia best known for the june 1776 lee resolution, the motion in the second continental congress calling for the colonies independence from great britain leading to the united states declaration of independence, which he signed. Livingston were appointed to a committee to draft a declaration of independence. Memoirs of the war in the southern department of the united states. Henry, richard, richard 17291787 and married 1754 to lucy grymes, dau. Richard lee 16101664 emigrated from england, settled in jamestown, and fathered the lee line of virginia. John dickinson, a quaker delegate from pennsylvania, was not in favor of independence and sought to reconcile the original colonies with the mother country. On june 7, 1776, richard henry lee of virginia proposed independence for the american colonies by introducing this resolution in the second continental congress. The lee family of virginia has enjoyed a long and illustrious history, and is a significant family in virginia, starting in 1642 with the arrival of richard lee some of the more prominent lee family members are best known for their accomplishments in the military and politics. He challenged union forces during the wars bloodiest battles, including antietam and. Coat of arms of richard henry lee, francis lightfoot lee and robert e.
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