The Lee family, in the United States of America, is a historically significant Virginia political family, whose many prominent members are known for their accomplishments in politics and the military. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state A political family is a Family in which several members are involved in Politics, particularly electoral politics. The most commonly held theory for over 200 years is that they are descended from the Lees of Shropshire, England. Shropshire (ˈʃrɒpʃɪə/ /-ʃə alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated in print only Shrops, is a county in the England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Discoveries in the last decade and more recent DNA studies may lead to a definitive answer on the precise origins of the family. The family became prominent in colonial America when Richard Lee I ("The Emigrant") emigrated to Virginia and made his fortune in tobacco. British North America consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary Col Richard Henry Lee I Esq “the Immigrant” (1613-1664 was a planter trader Attorney General of the Colony of Virginia colonial Secretary of State and member of the King's The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana.
Members of the family include Thomas Lee (1690–1750), a founder of the Ohio Company and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses; Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734–1797) and Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794), signers of the United States Declaration of Independence; Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819), Governor of Maryland and, most famously, General Robert E. Lee (1807–1870) Confederate States of America commander in the United States Civil War. Thomas Lee ( c 1690 &ndash November 14 1750 was a leading political figure of colonial Virginia. Year 1750 ( MDCCL) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected lower house in the legislative assembly in the New World established in the Colony of Virginia in Hon Francis Lightfoot Lee ( October 14, 1734 &ndash January 11, 1797) was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence Richard Henry Lee (January 20 1732 June 19 1794 was an American statesman from Virginia best known for proposing the motion in the Second Continental The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4 1776 announcing that the thirteen American colonies then Thomas Sim Lee ( October 29, 1745 &ndash November 9, 1819) was an American planter and statesman of Frederick County, Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South President Zachary Taylor and Chief Justice Edward Douglass White were also descendants of Richard Lee I. Zachary Taylor (November 24 1784 &ndash July 9 1850 was an American military leader and the twelfth President of the United States. Edward Douglass White Jr (November 3 1845 &ndash May 19 1921 American Politician and Jurist, was a United States senator, Associate Col Richard Henry Lee I Esq “the Immigrant” (1613-1664 was a planter trader Attorney General of the Colony of Virginia colonial Secretary of State and member of the King's Confederate President Jefferson Davis married Sarah Knox Taylor, daughter of Zachary Taylor. Jefferson Finis Davis ( June 3, 1808 &ndash December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as President of the Sarah Knox Taylor (birth March 6 1814, Vincennes Indiana - death September 15 1835, St Zachary Taylor (November 24 1784 &ndash July 9 1850 was an American military leader and the twelfth President of the United States.
Most recently, family members have marked over two hundred years of political service in the United States, as Blair Lee III, a descendant of Richard Henry Lee, served as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1971-1979 and Acting Governor of Maryland from 1977–1979. Blair Lee III ( May 19, 1916 &ndash October 25, 1985) was an American Democratic Politician. A Lieutenant Governor is a high officer of state whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction
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History
They are widely believed to have descended from the Lees of Shropshire; however, there is no conclusive proof. Shropshire (ˈʃrɒpʃɪə/ /-ʃə alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated in print only Shrops, is a county in the In fact, genealogist William Thorndale wrote an article for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly[1] which showed that Richard Lee I was actually the son of John Lee, a clothier, and Jane Hancock, that he had been born in Worcester (some ways down the River Severn) and not at Coton Hall, and that several of their immediate relatives had been apprenticed as vintners. The history of clothing and textiles attempts an objective survey of Clothing and Textiles throughout human history identifying Materials Tools For other rivers named "Severn" see Severn River. The River Severn ( Welsh: Afon Hafren, Latin
On the other hand, in the book Old Virginia and Her Neighbors[2], by John Fiske, the following can be found:
In the seventeenth century, when the migrations to America were beginning, it was customary for members of noble families to enter these guilds as apprentices in the crafts of the draper, the tailor, the vintner, or the mason, etc. Many important consequences have flowed from this. Let it suffice here to note that this fact of the rural aristocracy keeping in touch with the tradesmen and artisans has been one of the safeguards of English liberty; it has been one source of the power of the Commons, one check upon the undue aspirations of the Crown.
In any event, the Lees of Shropshire did have a substantial estate near Alveley for hundreds of years. Coton Hall itself dates back to 1348. Their name may have been originally "de la Lee"; alternatively, a "Delee" was listed in the Battle Abbey Roll as having accompanied William the Conquerer. The Battle Abbey Roll is popularly supposed to have been a list of William the Conqueror 's companions preserved at Battle Abbey, on the site of his great victory William I of England ( 1027 His reign which brought Norman culture to England had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages
Colonial Virginia
In the U. S. , the family began when Richard Lee I emigrated to Virginia and made his fortune in tobacco. Col Richard Henry Lee I Esq “the Immigrant” (1613-1664 was a planter trader Attorney General of the Colony of Virginia colonial Secretary of State and member of the King's The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. They first gained wider significance with Thomas Lee (1690–1750). Thomas Lee ( c 1690 &ndash November 14 1750 was a leading political figure of colonial Virginia. Year 1750 ( MDCCL) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a He became a member of the House of Burgesses and later went on to found the Ohio Company. The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected lower house in the legislative assembly in the New World established in the Colony of Virginia in The Ohio Company, formally known as the Ohio Company of Virginia, was a land speculation company organized for the colonization of the Ohio Country.
Revolutionary War era
Thomas Lee[3] (1690–1750) married Hannah Harrison[4] Ludwell: their children, like the descendants of Thomas Lee's brother Henry Lee I, included a number of prominent Revolutionary War and pre-Revolution political figures. Year 1750 ( MDCCL) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Capt Henry Lee I (1691-1747 was a prominent Virginian colonist, brother of Governor Thomas Lee, and grandfather of Revolutionary War hero Henry In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots"
Thomas and Hannah Lee's two eldest children were Philip Ludwell Lee (1726–1775) and Hannah Lee (1728–1782). Year 1726 ( MDCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1775 ( MDCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1728 ( MDCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1782 ( MDCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Thomas Ludwell Lee (1730-1778) was a member of the Virginia Delegates and a major editor of George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776), a precursor to the United States Declaration of Independence, which was signed by his brothers Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794) and Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797). Thomas Ludwell Lee Sr ( December 13, 1730 - April 13, 1778) was an editor of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Year 1730 ( MDCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or George Mason IV ( December 11, 1725 &ndash October 7, 1792) was a United States patriot, statesman and delegate from The Virginia Declaration of Rights is a document drafted in 1776 to proclaim the inherent Natural rights of men including the right to rebel against "inadequate" government The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4 1776 announcing that the thirteen American colonies then Richard Henry Lee (January 20 1732 June 19 1794 was an American statesman from Virginia best known for proposing the motion in the Second Continental Hon Francis Lightfoot Lee ( October 14, 1734 &ndash January 11, 1797) was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence Year 1734 ( MDCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1797 ( MDCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Richard Henry Lee was a delegate to Continental Congress from Virginia and president of that body, 1774, later serving as President of the United States in Congress assembled under the Articles of Confederation, and United States Senator from Virginia (1789–1792) under the new United States Constitution. The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the The President of the Continental Congress was the presiding officer of the Continental Congress, the convention of delegates that emerged as the first national government The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, also the Articles of Confederation was the governing Constitution of the alliance of thirteen independent and The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Virginia ratified the Constitution on June 25 1788. Its Senate seats were declared vacant in March 1861 due to its Secession from the Union The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States.
Younger siblings included Alice Lee (1736-1818), who married American Chief Physician William Shippen, Jr. Year 1736 ( MDCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Year 1818 ( MDCCCXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common [5] and diplomats William Lee (b. Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting Negotiations between representatives of groups or states William Lee (1739-1795 was an American diplomat during the Revolutionary War. 1739, d. Year 1739 ( MDCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a 1795) and Arthur Lee (b. Year 1795 ( MDCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Dr Arthur Lee ( 20 December 1740 — 12 December 1792) was an American Diplomat during the American Revolutionary 1740, d. Year 1740 ( MDCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap 1792). Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
Henry Lee's grandson, Henry Lee III (1756 - 1818), known as "Light Horse Harry," was a Princeton graduate who served with great distinction under General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War, and was the only officer below the rank of General to receive the "Gold Medal," awarded for his leadership at the Battle of Paulus Hook in New Jersey, on August 19, 1779. Henry Lee III called "Light Horse Harry", ( January 29 1756 – March 25 1818) was a Cavalry officer in Year 1756 ( MDCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1818 ( MDCCCXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Princeton University is a private Coeducational research university located in Princeton, New Jersey. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The Battle At four o'clock on the afternoon of August 8, 1779, Major Henry Lee with four hundred infantry and a troop of dismounted dragoons started from New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He was Governor of Virginia from 1791-1794. The following is a list of the Governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Among his six children was Robert Edward Lee, later the famed Confederate general during the American Civil War. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South
Henry Lee III's brothers were the noted Richard Bland Lee, a two-term U. Richard Bland Lee ( January 20, 1761 – March 12, 1827) was a planter jurist and politician from Fairfax County Virginia. S. Congressman from Virginia, and Charles Lee (1758–1815), Attorney General of the United States from 1795–1801. Charles Lee (1758 &ndash June 24 1815) was an American lawyer from Virginia The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice (see) concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement
Thomas Sim Lee, a second cousin of Henry Lee III, was elected Governor of Maryland in 1779 and 1792 and declined a third term in 1798. Thomas Sim Lee ( October 29, 1745 &ndash November 9, 1819) was an American planter and statesman of Frederick County, He played an important part in the birth of Maryland as state and in the birth of the United States of America as a nation. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
Civil War Era
Portrait by Julian Vannerson
Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), was the son of Henry Lee III, and probably the most famous member of the Lee family. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated He served as Confederate general in the United States Civil War. The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South
He was married to Mary Anna Randolph Custis[1], who was a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington and also was Lee's third cousin once removed through Richard Lee II, fourth cousin through William Randolph, and third cousin through Robert Carter I. Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee ( October 1, 1807 &ndash November 5, 1873) was the wife of Confederate General Robert E Martha Custis Washington (née Dandridge) ( June 2, 1731 &ndash May 22, 1802) was the wife of George Washington, the first Col Richard Henry Lee II Esq (1647-1715 was a Colonel planter member of the Upper House and the King's Council William Randolph ( November 7, 1650 - April 11, 1711) was a Colonist and Land owner who played an important role in the Robert Carter also known as King Carter (1663 &ndash August 4 1732 of Lancaster County was a Colonist in Virginia and became one of the
R. E. Lee's children included George Washington Custis Lee and William H. Fitzhugh Lee. Major General George Washington Custis Lee ( September 16 1832 &ndash February 18 1913) aka Custis Lee, was the eldest William Henry Fitzhugh Lee ( May 31, 1837 &ndash October 15, 1891) known as Rooney Lee or W Other Lee relations who were General Officers during the Civil War were Fitzhugh Lee (Confederate Army),Samuel Phillips Lee (US Navy); Richard Lucian Page (Confederate Army and Navy); Edwin Gray Lee (Confederate Army). Samuel Phillips Lee ( 13 February 1812 &ndash 7 June 1897) was a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy. Richard Lucian Page ( December 20, 1807 &ndash August 9, 1901) was a U Edwin Gray Lee (May 27 1836 &ndash August 24 1870 was an American soldier from Virginia and a Confederate brigadier general during the American Indirect relations of R. E. Lee who were C. S General Officers were William N. Pendleton and Virginia Military Institute graduate William H. F. Payne. William Nelson Pendleton ( December 26, 1809 &ndash January 15, 1883) was an Episcopal priest and a Confederate general The Virginia Military Institute ( VMI) located in Lexington Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior William Henry Fitzhugh Payne ( January 27, 1830 &ndash March 29, 1904) was a general in the Confederate States Army during the
Later Generations
Francis Preston Blair Lee (1857-1944) was a Democratic member of the United States Senate, representing the State of Maryland from 1914-1917. Francis Preston Blair Lee ( August 9, 1857 &ndash December 25, 1944) was a Democratic member of the United States Senate Click here for Indian Rebellion of 1857 Year 1857 ( MDCCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year He was also the great-grandson of American patriot Richard Henry Lee, and grandfather of Blair Lee III, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1971-1979 and Acting Governor of Maryland from 1977–1979. Richard Henry Lee (January 20 1732 June 19 1794 was an American statesman from Virginia best known for proposing the motion in the Second Continental Blair Lee III ( May 19, 1916 &ndash October 25, 1985) was an American Democratic Politician. A Lieutenant Governor is a high officer of state whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction
Notes
- ^ December 1988 issue
- ^ Published in 1897 by Houghton, Mifflin, and Co.
- ^ HISTORY STRATFORD Thomas Lee 1690-1750
- ^ Her first cousin twice removed was Benjamin Harrison V
- ^ Shippen's father, Continental Congressman William Shippen, was a cousin of Peggy Shippen wife of Benedict Arnold
See also
Further reading
- Nagel, Paul C. Benjamin Harrison V (April 5 1726 April 24 1791 was an American planter and revolutionary leader from Charles City County Virginia. A Member of Congress is a Politician who is a member of a Congress. William Shippen Sr ( October 1, 1712 &ndash November 4, 1801) was an American physician from Philadelphia Pennsylvania Peggy Shippen, or Margaret Shippen ( July 11 1760 - August 24 1804 or February 14 1836) was the second wife Benedict Arnold V ( – June 14, 1801) was a General during the American Revolutionary War who originally fought for the American Continental Zachary Taylor (November 24 1784 &ndash July 9 1850 was an American military leader and the twelfth President of the United States. , The Lees of Virginia: Seven Generations of an American Family, Oxford University Press, reprinted 1992, ISBN 0-19-507478-5.
- Lee, Edmund Jennings (editor), Lee of Virginia, Genealogical Publishing Co. , Inc. , Baltimore, Maryland. reprinted 1983, ISBN 0-8063-0604-1
External links
- The Lees of Virginia
- Profile of Richard Lee
- BBC on Shropshire Lees
- Lee Family Digital Archive
- Society of the Lees of Virginia
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