Henry Lee III | |
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9th Governor of Virginia | |
In office December 1, 1791 – December 1, 1794 |
|
Preceded by | Beverley Randolph |
Succeeded by | Robert Brooke |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 19th district |
|
In office March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 |
|
Preceded by | Walter Jones |
Succeeded by | John Taliaferro |
Personal details | |
Born |
Dumfries, Colony of Virginia, British America |
January 29, 1756
Died | March 25, 1818 Cumberland Island, Georgia, U.S. |
(aged 62)
Resting place |
Lee Chapel Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia, U.S. |
Political party | Federalist |
Spouse(s) | Matilda Ludwell Lee Anne Hill Carter |
Children | Robert E. Lee, others |
Alma mater | College of New Jersey |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Nickname(s) | "Light-Horse Harry" |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch |
Continental Army United States Army |
Years of service | 1776–1783 (Continental Army) 1798–1800 (U.S. Army) |
Rank |
Lieutenant colonel (Continental Army) Major general (U.S. Army) |
Battles/wars |
American Revolutionary War Whiskey Rebellion |
Major-General Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee III (January 29, 1756 – March 25, 1818) was an early American Patriot and politician who served as the ninth Governor of Virginia and as the Virginia Representative to the United States Congress. Lee's service during the American Revolution as a cavalry officer in the Continental Army earned him the nickname by which he is best known, "Light-Horse Harry". Lee was the father of Civil War-era Confederate general Robert E. Lee.
Lee was born near Dumfries in the Colony of Virginia. He was the son of Col. Henry Lee II (1730–1787) of "Leesylvania" and Lucy Grymes (1734–1792) the "Lowland Beauty". His father was the second cousin of Richard Henry Lee, twelfth President of the Continental Congress. His mother was an aunt of the wife of Virginia Governor Thomas Nelson, Jr. His great-grandmother Mary Bland was also a grand-aunt of President Thomas Jefferson.
Lee was the grandson of Capt. Henry Lee I, a great-grandson of Richard Bland, and a great-great-grandson of William Randolph. He was also a descendant of Theodorick Bland of Westover and Governor Richard Bennett.