Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797

Variant names

Hide Profile

Francis Lightfoot Lee (October 14, 1734 – January 11, 1797) was a Founding Father of the United States and a member of the House of Burgesses in the Colony of Virginia. As an active protester regarding issues such as the Stamp Act of 1765, Lee helped move the colony in the direction of independence from Britain. Lee was a delegate to the Virginia Conventions and the Continental Congress. He was a signer of the Articles of Confederation and the Declaration of Independence as a representative of Virginia. In addition to his career in politics, Lee owned a tobacco plantation as well as many slaves. He was a member of the Lee family, a prominent Virginian dynasty whose members accumulated their wealth and power through plantation slavery.

Born at a Lee family home at Machadoc, later known as Burnt House Field, in Hague, Westmoreland County, Virginia, he grew up at Stratford Hall, a large tobacco plantation, which his father completed in 1738. He was educated at home, where Lee pursued classical studies under Dr. Craig. In 1774, Lee was among those who called for a general congress and the first of the Virginia Conventions, which he attended. He served in the Virginia State Senate from 1778 to 1782 and was a delegate to the First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia, serving until 1779. As a congressional representative of Virginia, he signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1768 as a member.

Lee died of pleurisy at his residence (named "Menokin") in Richmond County, Virginia, on January 11, 1797, following his wife's death four days prior. He was buried in his wife's family plot at Mount Airy Plantation, near Warsaw, Virginia.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Stone, Edward L. (Edward Lee), 1864-1938. Papers of Edward L. Stone [manuscript], 1730-1802. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Alfred and Elizabeth Brand Collection of Civil War and Lee Family Papers, 1757-1925, (bulk 1838-1868) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797. Letter to Colonel Landon Carter, 1776 January 22. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Johns, Jay Winston, 1888-1974. Jay Johns Papers, 1918-1974. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Jay Johns Papers, 1918-1974. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
referencedIn Letters and documents of signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1750-1933. Houghton Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot. Autograph letter signed : to his brother, William Lee, 1774 Jan. 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot. Autograph letter signed : to John Taylor Esq., 1792 July 22nd. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797. Letter : to William Lee, 1770 June 5. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Lee, Henry, 1756-1818. Lee family collection, 1780-1886. Princeton University Library
creatorOf Page, Mann, 1718-1781. Letter : Mannsfield, to Francis Lightfoot Lee, 1779 February 8. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot. Document signed, 1777 July 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Bamberger, Louis, 1855-1944,. Autograph collection, 1683-1929. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797. ALS : Menokin, Richmond Co., Va., to Ludwell Lee, Richmond, 1796 Nov. 23. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot. Autograph letter signed : to his brother, William Lee, 1773 Dec. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Fauquier, Francis, 1704?-1768. Commission of Oyer and Terminer, 1767 December 15. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794. Additional papers of the Lee family [manuscript] 1749-1828. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot. Autograph letter signed : Mount Airy, to his brother, William Lee, 1769 Aug. 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Logan, Deborah Norris, 1761-1839. Diaries, 1815-1839. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Brockenbrough, William, fl. 1763,. Papers of the Carter and Wellford family of Sabine Hall, 1650 (1736-1874) 1936. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797. Autograph bill signed : Philadelphia, to the state of Virginia, 1776 Aug. 11. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1795. Letter, 1773 June 15, Menokin, [near Richmond, Va., to William Lee], n.p. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Cary, Wilson Miles, 1734-1817. Papers of the Fairfax and Lee families, 1753-1808. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot. Autograph signature to letter from the Committee of Congress : War Office, to Thomas Wharton, President of the Supreme Council of Pennsylvania, 1777 Dec. 30. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Robert Carter Wormeley Diary, 1766 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Page, Mann, 1718-1781. Letter to Francis Lightfoot Lee [manuscript], 1779 February 8. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Henry Woodhouse Collection Relating to George Washington, 1656-1930, (bulk 1825-1887) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Gwathmey collection, 1708-1852 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Lee family. Papers, 1638-1867. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Lee family. Brock Collection: Lee family papers, 1722-1892 (bulk 1765-1870). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Carter, Robert, 1728-1804. Papers, 1772-1793. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797. ADS, 1796 October 22 : Receipt from General Henry Lee. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870. Papers, 1749-1939. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Signers collection, 1770-1826. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Carter, Robert Wormeley, 1734-1797. Diary, 1776. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Andrew, John A. (John Albion), 1818-1867,. Lee family papers [microform] 1652 [1769-1870] 1890. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797. ALS, 1777 May 3 : Philadelphia, Pa., to Maj. Gen. Adam Stephen. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Lee, Arthur, 1740-1792,. Papers of the Lee family [manuscript], 1750-1809. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Washington, William Augustine, 1757-1810. Ledger, 1782-1809. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
referencedIn Brand, R. Alfred, III,. Alfred and Elizabeth Brand Collection of Civil War and Lee Family Papers, 1757-1925 (bulk 1838-1868). Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Atlas Fuel Corporation (Pittsburgh, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Bamberger, Louis, 1855-1944, person
associatedWith Brand, Elizabeth D., collector. person
associatedWith Brand, R. Alfred III, collector. person
associatedWith Brooks, Phillips, 1835-1893 person
associatedWith Byrd, Harry Flood, 1887-1966 person
associatedWith Carter, Landon, 1710-1778, person
associatedWith Carter, Robert, 1728-1804. person
associatedWith Carter, Robert Wormeley, 1734-1797. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith de Butts, Harry Ashby, 1895- person
associatedWith Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Fauquier, Francis, 1704?-1768. person
associatedWith Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849 person
associatedWith George Washington Parke Custis person
associatedWith Glass, Carter, 1858-1946 person
associatedWith Godwin, Mills E. (Mills Edwin), 1914- person
associatedWith Hall, Henry Bryan, fl. 1850-1900. person
associatedWith Harrison, Albertis S. (Albertis Sydney), 1907- person
associatedWith Hill, Daniel Harvey, 1821-1889 person
associatedWith Hubbard, John, collector. person
associatedWith Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863 person
associatedWith Johns, Helen Lambert, 1881-1964 person
associatedWith Johns, Jay person
associatedWith Johns, Jay Winston, 1888-1974. person
associatedWith Kilpatrick, James Jackson, 1920- person
associatedWith Lee, Arthur, 1740-1792. person
memberOf Lee family. family
relativeOf Lee, Henry, 1756-1818. person
associatedWith Lee-Jackson Memorial, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Lee, Ludwell, 1760-1836. person
associatedWith Lee, Mary Randolph Custis, 1806-1873 person
sibling of Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794. person
relativeOf Lee, Richard Henry, 1794-1865 person
relativeOf Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870. person
associatedWith Lee, William, person
associatedWith Lee, William, 1739-1795. person
associatedWith Logan, Deborah Norris, 1761-1839. person
associatedWith Marshall, George C. (George Catlett), 1880-1959 person
associatedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831 person
associatedWith Moses, Ezekial. person
associatedWith Muse, Hudson, 1740?-1799. person
associatedWith Page, Mann, 1718-1781. person
associatedWith Robert Wormeley Carter, 1734-1797 person
associatedWith Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, person
correspondedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stephen, Adam. person
associatedWith Stone, Edward L. (Edward Lee), 1864-1938 person
associatedWith Tayloe, John, 1721-1779. person
associatedWith Taylor, John, person
associatedWith Thalhimer, Morton G. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. corporateBody
memberOf Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates corporateBody
memberOf Virginia. General Assembly. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia Trust for Historic Preservation. corporateBody
associatedWith Washington, William Augustine, 1757-1810. person
associatedWith Wharton, Thomas, person
associatedWith Willard, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1902- person
associatedWith William M. (William Munford) Tuck. person
associatedWith Woodhouse, Henry, 1884- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Richmond County VA US
Westmoreland County VA US
Subject
Ash Lawn (Virginia : Estate)
Money
Presidents
Tobacco
Tobacco industry
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Plantation owners
Politicians
State Representative
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1734-10-14

Death 1797-01-11

Male

Americans,

Britons

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c258sf

Ark ID: w6c258sf

SNAC ID: 63741030