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Richard Henry Lee
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 Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain. Lee also served as the sixth President of the United States in Congress assembled under the Articles of Confederation, holding office from November 30, 1784 to November 22, 1785, and as a U.S. Senator from Virginia from 1789 to 1792, serving during part of that time as one of the first Presidents pro tempore. Lee was born in Stratford, Westmoreland County in the Colony of Virginia on January 20, 1732. Richard was the son of Col. Thomas Lee, Hon. (1690-1750) and Hannah Harrison Ludwell (1701-1750). He was the great-uncle of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Richard was sent to England and educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield in Yorkshire. In 1752 he returned to Virginia, where he began to practice law.
Early careerIn 1757 he was appointed justice of the peace for Westmoreland County. In 1761 he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses; this is where he met Patrick Henry when both headed many committees on resolves. An early advocate of independence, he became one of the first to create Committees of Correspondence among the many independence-minded Americans in the various colonies. American RevolutionIn August 1774, Lee was chosen as a delegate to the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In Lee's Resolution on the 7th of June 1776, Lee put forth the motion to the Continental Congress to declare Independence from Great Britain. which read (in part): "Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." Due to Lee's absence from the Congress because of his wife's illness, Thomas Jefferson was to write the Declaration. Quotes?To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.?[1] 
Lee Family Coat of Arms Political offices
Marriages and childrenRichard married first on December 5, 1757, Anne Aylett (1738-1768), daughter of William Aylett and Elizabeth Eskridge (1719), who married secondly, Dr. James Steptoe, Col. (1709-1757). Anne died December 12, 1768 at Chantille, Westmoreland Co., Virginia. The couple had four surviving children:
Richard re-married in June or July of 1769 to Anne (Gaskins) Pinckard. The couple had five surviving children:
Francis Lightfoot Lee IIRichard's youngest son was named for his brother Francis Lightfoot Lee, another signer of the Declaration of Independence. The younger Francis married Jane Fitzgerald (born 25 Jul 1818) on 9 Feb 1810.[2] In 1811 he purchased the estate Sully in Fairfax County, Virginia from his second cousin Richard Bland Lee.[3] Jane died on 25 Jul 1816, shortly after the birth on their fifth child.
AncestryRichard was the son of Col. Thomas Lee, Hon. (1690-1750) of "Stratford Hall", Westmoreland Co., Virginia. Thomas married Hannah Harrison Ludwell (1701-1750). Hannah was the daughter of Col. Philip Ludwell II (1672-1726) of "Greenspring", and Hannah Harrison (1679-1731). Thomas was the son of Col. Richard Lee II, Esq., ?the scholar? (1647-1715) and Laetitia Corbin (ca. 1657-1706). Laetitia was the daughter of Richard?s neighbor and, Councillor, Hon. Henry Corbin, Sr. (1629-1676) and Alice (Eltonhead) Burnham (ca. 1627-1684). Richard II, was the son of Col. Richard Lee I, Esq., "the immigrant" (1618-1664) and Anne Constable (ca. 1621-1666). Anne was the daughter of Thomas Constable and a ward of Sir John Thoroughgood. He was related to Colonel Noah Lee (Revolutionary War), but not to General Robert E. Lee (Civil War). LegacyLee County, Georgia is named in his honor. Representations in fictionRichard Henry Lee is a key character in the musical 1776. He was portrayed by Ron Holgate in both the Broadway cast and in the 1972 film. The character performs a song called "The Lees of Old Virginia", in which he explains how he knows he will be able to convince the Virginia House of Burgesses to allow him to propose independence. ReferencesExternal links
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