Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

<p>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. He also served a one-year term as the president of the Continental Congress, was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation, and was a United States Senator from Virginia from 1789 to 1792, serving during part of that time as the second president pro tempore of the upper house.</p>

<p>He was a member of the Lee family, a historically influential family in Virginia politics.</p>

<p>Lee was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Colonel Thomas Lee and Hannah Harrison Ludwell Lee on January 20, 1732. He came from a line of military officers, diplomats, and legislators. His father was the governor of Virginia before his death in 1750. Lee spent most of his early life in Stratford, Virginia, at Stratford Hall. Here he was tutored and taught in a variety of skills. To develop his political career, his father sent him around to neighboring planters with the intention for Lee to become associated with neighboring men of like prominence. In 1748, at 16, Lee left Virginia for Yorkshire, England, to complete his formal education at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield. Both of his parents died in 1750 and, in 1753, after touring Europe, he returned to Virginia to help his brothers settle the estate his parents had left behind.</p>

<p>In 1757, Lee was appointed justice of the peace in Westmoreland County. In 1758, he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he met Patrick Henry. An early advocate of independence, Lee became one of the first to create Committees of correspondence among the many independence-minded Americans in the various colonies. In 1766, almost ten years before the American Revolutionary War, Lee is credited with having authored the Westmoreland Resolution which was publicly signed by prominent landowners who met at Leedstown, Virginia, on February 27, 1766. Among the signers were four brothers of George Washington.</p>

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li> 04/18/1792 President Pro Tempore Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 02/10/1789 VA US Senate - Initial Election Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1786 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1785 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1784 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 11/30/1784 US President of the Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1783 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1779 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1778 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1777 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1776 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1775 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1774 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 08/01/1774 VA Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>

<p>Richard Henry Lee (brother of F.L. Lee) was born to an aristocratic family at Stratford, in Westmoreland county, Virginia. He attended a private school in England, returning to Virginia in 1751. 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 Braddock was preparing a campaign on the Ohio river. The young men were rebuffed by the General and returned home. In 1757 Lee was appointed Justice of the Peace, and was shortly thereafter elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was amongst those radical members of the Burgesses who met at the Raleigh tavern when the house was dissolved by the Royal Governor. In 1774 he was elected to attend the first Continental Congress. He enjoyed many important committee appointments. Noted for his oratory skills, it was he who offered the Resolutions for Independence to the committee of the whole in 1776. He served in Congress through the course of the War, while also serving in the House of Burgesses. In 1783 he was selected as president of Congress.</p>

<p>Lee opposed the federal constitution, as he favored strong state rights. He was however elected the first State Senator from Virginia under the new federal government. He retired from that office to his home in Chantilly due to illness, and soon after died at the age of 62.</p>