Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/40

 FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION

of alliance with France, and in 1777 he was intrusted with special missions to Spain and Prussia, and in October, 1778, was contin- ued as sole commissioner to Spain, also act- ing in the same capacity to the court of Prussia, but residing in Paris. His frequent quarrels with Franklin and Dcane led to his recall in 1779. He was a representative in the general assembly of Virginia, 1781 ; a delegate to the Continental Congress, 1781- 84; Indian commissioner in Western New ^ork and Pennsylvania, 1784, and a member of the board of treasury, 1784-89. He was opposed to the adoption of the Federal con- stitution. He retired to his estate, **Lans- downe/' at Urbanna, Middlesex county, Vir- ginia, in 17S9. where he devoted himself to his books and correspondence. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and received the honorary de- gree of LL. D. from Harvard College in 1781. He died unmarried, at Urbanna. Vir- ginia. December 12, 1792.

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, was born at Strat- ford. Westmoreland county. Virginia, Oc- tober 14, 1734. 5on of Hon. Thomas and F-annah (Ludwcll) Lee. He was educated at Stratford by Rev. Mr. Craig, a Scotch clersryman. He became a member of the house of burgesses for Loudoun county, and with his brother, in 1765. signed the West- moreland declaration against the Stamp Act. L'pon his marriage to Rebecca, dp.ughter of Colonel John Tayloe, of Richmond county, in 1772. he made that county his home, and was elected to represent it in the house of burgesses. He succeeded Colonel Richard Bland as delegate to the Continental Con- gress. August 15, 1775. serving 1775-79- He signed the Declaration of Independence, as-

sisted in preparing the articles of confeder- ation, and defended the rights of the states to the Newfoundland fisheries and the free navigation of the Mississippi river. He re- tired from Congress in the spring of 1779, and resumed his duties as master of exten- sive estates, and as justice of the peace of Richmond county. He represented the county in the state legislature for one or two terms. He died in Richmond county, April 3, 1797. He was sixth son of Presi- dent Thomas Lee.

Lee, Henry, was born at Leesylvania, Westmoreland county, Virginia, January 29. 1756, son of Henry and Lucy (Grymes) Lee, grandson of Henry and Mary (Bland) Lee, great-grandson of John and Lettice Lee. great-great-grandson of Richard and Laetitia (Corbin) Lee. andgreat-grtat-great- grandson of Colonel Richard and Anne Lee. Henry Lee was graduated at the Col- lege of New Jersey. .A. P>.. 1773, •'^- ^I» ^77^- Prevented from visiting Europe by the prep- arations for revolution, he returned to Vir- ginia, recruited a company of "light horse" in 1775. was appointed captain in Colonel 'ihcodorick IJland's legion of Virginia cav- alry, and in 1777 joined Washington's army in Pennsylvania. He was promoted maior for gallant conduct in battle, in January. 1778. and was given command of two troops of horse, to which he added a third troop and a company of infantry, and *' Lee's Le- gion** became an independent partisan corps and its leader received the cognomen, "Lighthorse Harry." This corps constantly hung on the flank of the British army, and annoyed both their march and camp. On July 19, 1779. Lee surprised the British at Paulus Hook. New York harbor, and with

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