Henry Lee

For more information on Henry Lee, visit Britannica.com.

Born in Prince William County, Virginia, Lee graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1773. An exceptional cavalryman, he rose to lieutenant colonel in the Continental army, where he commanded “Lee's Legion” and was known as “Light‐Horse Harry” Lee. In 1779, he captured a British force at Paulus Hook, New Jersey, and performed with distinction during the 1780–81 southern campaign.

Lee's military experience convinced him that American liberty depended on a strong central government led by proven patriots. He was a friend and supporter of George Washington, whom he eulogized as “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” A staunch Federalist, Lee defended the Constitution at the 1788 Virginia ratifying convention and while serving as governor of Virginia commanded the 1794 Federal expedition against the Whiskey Rebellion.

In private life, Lee fared poorly. Failed speculations landed him in debtor's prison in 1808. Four years later, a Baltimore mob injured him after he attempted to defend the office of an unpopular newspaper. In 1813–18, he convalesced in the West Indies, but never recovered; he returned to die at the Georgia home of his late comrade, Nathanael Greene. One of his sons, Robert E. Lee, would become the leading general of the Confederacy.

[See also Revolutionary War: Military and Diplomatic Course.]

Bibliography

• Thomas Boyd, Light‐horse Harry Lee, 1931.
• Charles Royster, Light‐Horse Harry Lee and the Legacy of the American Revolution, 1981

Lee, Henry (1756-1818) cavalry officer in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, born in Leesylvania, Virginia. He was known as “Light-Horse Harry” Lee. An exceptional horseman whose skill and bravery became legendary, he led an independent partisan corps (three troops of horse and a small body of infantry) that came to be called “Lee's Legion.” For his brilliant performance in capturing a British force at Paulus Hook, New Jersey (1779), he was presented a gold medal by Congress. Lee continued to perform with distinction during the 1780-81 southern campaign, proving himself a remarkable strategist and battlefield leader. He resigned his commission in 1782. After the Revolution he served as governor of Virginia (1791-94) and led the army militia that suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion (1794).

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

Henry Lee may refer to:

People

• Sir Henry Lee of Ditchley (1533–1611), Master of the Ordnance and Queen's Champion under Elizabeth I of England.
• Sir Henry Lee of Ditchley, 1st Bart of Quarendon, heir of above.
• Capt. Henry Lee I (1691-1747) of "Lee Hall", Westmoreland County Virginia; prominent Virginian colonist, grandfather of Henry Lee III
• Maj. Gen. Henry Lee II (1730-1787) of "Leesylvania", father of Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee III
• Maj. Gen. Henry Lee III, Gov. (1756-1818), nicknamed "Light Horse Harry", was an early American military and political figure.
• Henry Lee IV (1787-1837) also known as "Black Horse Harry" Lee, stepbrother of Robert E. Lee and son of Henry Lee III
• Henry Lee (economist) (1782–1867), proponent of free trade and candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1832
• Henry Lee (forensic scientist) (born 1938), Chinese American forensic scientist
• Henry Lee (Australian politician) (1856-1927), Australian politician
• Henry A. G. Lee (c. 1818-1851), newspaper editor, politician, militia officer in Oregon, United States
• Henry B. Lee (died 1817), U.S. Representative from New York, who was succeeded by James Tallmadge, Jr.
• Henry David Lee (1849-1928), American businessman
• Henry J. Lee, a victim from the Virginia Tech massacre
• Henry W. Lee (1865-fl.1935), British socialist
• Henry Lee Junior, Hong Kong celebrity and racing driver
• Henry Lee (cyclist), British Olympic cyclist
• Henry Lee (MP), British Member of Parliament for Southampton, 1880–1885

Music

• "Henry Lee", a traditional dance, closely related to "Young Hunting", which was performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (featuring PJ Harvey) on the album Murder Ballads

See also

• Harry Lee (disambiguation)
• All pages with titles containing "Henry Lee"
• Henry Lee Lucas (1936–2001) American criminal, convicted of murder and once listed as America's most prolific serial killer.

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