Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/43

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

among ihe hrst. His memoirs, political rorrespondencc and political pamphlets were published by his grandson, Richard Henry Lee, in 1825. He died at his residence, "Chantilly." in Westmoreland county. June 19. 1794.

Lee» Thomas Ludwell, fourth son of 'Ihomas Lee. and Hannah Ludwell, his wife, was born at "'Stratford," in Westmore- land county, December 13, 1730. Nothing is known of his school days, but it is highly probable that he was sent to England for his education, as were most of his brothers. He studied law, and practiced in the courts. He removed to Stafford county, and repre- sented that county in the house of burgesses in the assemblies of 1758-1761, and 1761- 1765. and in the conventions of July and December. 1775, and May, 1776. He was a member of the committee of safety in 1775, and in the convention of 1776 ser\-ed on the committee which drew up the bill of rights and the plan for an independent state. He was one of the five revisors appointed by the general assembly in 1777, and was judge of the general court. He died at his home, "Bellevuc," in StaflFord county, April 13, 1778. He married Anne Aylett, daughter of William Aylett, and left seven children.

Lee, William, seventh son of Thomas and Hannah (Ludwell) Lee, was born at '*Strat- ford," Westmoreland county, Virginia, Au- gust 13, 1759, and was educated, it is be- lieved, at home by private tutors. In Feb- ruary, 1766, he was a signer of the West- moreland county resolutions against the Stamp Act, and shortly after went to Eng- Icnd, where he engaged in business. He look an active interest in the politics of the day, and was instrumental in inducing the

merchants of London to remonstrate to par- liament against the revenue taxes on Amer- ica, which contributed to bring about a re- peal of all the taxes except that on tea. He was probably the first American to express bis opinions in favor of the separation of the .American colonies. In May, 1775, he was elected an alderman of London, and in 1776 held the office of sheriff. The same year he went with his brother to Paris, and about April 21. 1777. he received notice of his appointment by the Continental Congress as commercial agent to the United States in France; in September, 1777, he was ap- pointed to represent the government at Ber- lin and Vienna, and later on he accepted the position of representative at the Hague. In 1778, by permission of the Holland gov- ernment, he met Jean de Neufville, an Am- sterdam merchant, at Aix-la-Chapelle, to complete the negotiation of a loan for the American colonies. The two commissioners drew up a commercial treaty, and it wa^ signed by de Neufville and Van Berckel, burgomaster of Amsterdam, and entrusted to Henry Laurens to be carried to America for the approval of Congress. By the cap- ture of Laurens, when on his way from America to the Hague to obtain the loan, the paper fell into the hands of the British ministry and was made the pretext for de- claring war against Holland. In the diffi- culties between Arthur Lee and the other two American commissioners to Paris, Franklin and Deane, William Lee took part and, in 1779, with his brother, was ordered by Congress to return home ; but no action was taken after their arrival. He married his cousin, Hannah Philippa Ludwell, who brought him the "Green Spring" estate (for- mer residence of Sir William Berkeley). He

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