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People of the Revolutionary War | Patriots of the American Revolution | Henry Lee
Henry Lee
Henry Lee was born on January 29, 1756 in Leesylvania, Virginia. In June 1776,
he was commissioned a Captain in the Virginia Light Cavalry. In January
1778, he was promoted to Major. Lee next received commendation for his
actions at Paulus Hook, New Jersey in August 1779. In the Fall of 1780,
he was promoted to Lt. Colonel, 'Lee's Legion' was formed and ordered to
South Carolina. Lee's Legion was effective at the Battle
of Guilford Courthouse in March, 1781. In a series of detached
actions, Lee captured Fort Watson, Fort Motte, Fort Granby and Fort
Galphin. He next supported sieges at Augusta and Ninety-Six. Lee again
distinguished himself at Eutaw
Springs on September 8, 1781. Lee was present at Yorktown,
Virginia in October, 1781. He then returned south.
In February 1782, Lee was granted a leave of absence and never returned
to duty. He married his cousin Matilda Lee and entered politics being
elected to Congress in 1785. In 1788 he led the fight in Virginia for
ratification of the U.S.
Constitution. In 1790, his wife died. From 1791-1794, he was
governor of Virginia. On June 13, 1793, he married Ann Carter Hill. In
1794, He was in command of troops during the Whiskey
Rebellion. He returned to Congress from 1799 to 1801. In 1812, Lee
was severly injured when a mob stormed a jail where he, Alexander Hanson
and others had gone for protection after Hanson's Federalist newspaper
had denounced President Madison. Henry Lee ended up in debtor's prison
in 1812 and in 1813, went to the West Indies. When his health continued
to grow worse, he set sail for home. However, he only made it to
Cumberland Island, Georgia, where passed away on March 25, 1818 and was
buried there.
He was a recipient of the
Congressional Gold Medal on September 24, 1779.
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