Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/417

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

LEE


LEE


superior force, compelling Gen. A. J. Smith to retreat to Memphis, Tenn. He was promoted lieutenant-general, June 2'.i, 18G4; commamleil a corps in the battles around Atlanta, and lead the assault at Ezra Chun^h, July 28, 1864. During the invasion of Tennessee he was in command of a corps in Hood's army, was severely wounded at Nashville, and was succeeded in command by Gen. C. L. Stevenson, who conducted the retreat across the Tennessee. General Lee resumeil com- mand of his corps in North Carolina, aixl sur- rendered with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army at High Point. N.C. He then removed to Miss- issippi, and was married, Feb. 9, 186"), to Regina, daugiiter of James Thomas and Regina (Blewett) Harrison, of Columbus, Miss. He was elected state senator in 1870, and was the first president of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical college, 1880-99. He was a member of the con- stitutional convention which framed the new constitution of Mississippi in 1890, chairman of the historical committee, Association of United Confederate Veterans, and on Nov. 5, 1894, lieu- tenant-general commanding the Army of Ten- nessee, Department of the United Confederate Veterans. The degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Tulane university in 1896. On March 1, 1899, he was appointed by Secretary of War Alger a member of the commission for organiz- ing the Vicksburg national military park.

LEE, Sydney Smith, naval officer, was born at "Stratford," Va., Sept. 2, 1802; son of Gen. Henry and Anne Hill (Carter) Lee. He entered the U.S. navy as midshipman, Dec. 30, 1820; was proiuoted lieutenant, May 17, 1828, and com- mander, June 4, 1850. He accompanied Com- modore Perry to Japan as commander of his flagship. He was subsequently commandant of the U.S. Nava> academy, and of the naval yard at Philadelphia. He was dismissed from the nav}-, April 22, 1861, having accepted service in the Confederate States navy, assumed command of the Gosport navy yard, Norfolk, Va., May 27, 1862; commanded Drewry's Bluff, 1862-63, and was chief of the bureau of orders and detail, 1864-65. He attained the rank of captain. He was married to Anne Marie Mason, of Fairfax county, Va. He died at Richland, Stafford county, Va., July 22, 1869.

LEE, Thomas, colonial governor, was born at " Stratford," Va.. about 1702; fifth son of Richard and Lsetitia (Corbin) Lee, and grandson of Rirli- ard Lee, of the privy council of Charles I. and founder of the Lees of Virginia. He was for many years a member and president of the king's council and commander-in-chief of the colony of Virginia. In 1744 Governor Sir William Gooch appointed him, with William Beverly, as commis- sioner to treat with the Iroquois Indians. They


journeyed to Philadelphia in a yacht aiid met the Iroquois at Lancaster, Pa., where they secured the right of settling the lands west of the moun- tains as far as the Ohio river. Lee originated a plan for the exploration and settlement of these lands, which, however, he failed to carry out. He built the second manor-house with nearlj' one hundred rooms, the original house built by Richard Lee having been destroyed by fire about 1735, during his proprietorship of the estate. The money to rebuild the mansion was furnished by jirivate subscriptions, headed by the governor. He was married to Hannah, daughter of Col. Philip Ludwell of Green Spring, near Williamsburg, Va. , by his second wife (his first wife having been Lady Berkeley) and grand- daughter of Philip Ludwell, governor of Noith Carolina, 1689-91. He had six .<3ons, Philip Lud- well, Thomas Ludwell, Richard Henry, Francis Lightfoot, William and Arthur, and two daugh- ters. He was for some time acting governor of the colony and was apjiointed governor in 17.")0, the first and only native-born Virginian to hold that office by appointment of the crown. He died soon after receiving his commission, at Stafford House. Va., in 1750.

LEE, Thomas, jurist, was born in Charleston, S. C, Dec. 1, 1709; son of William Lee and a de- scendant of Thomas Lee, born in Bridgeton, Isle of Barbadoes, in 1710. settled in Charleston, S.C., and married Mary Giles. Thomas was admitted to the bar in 1790; was clerk of the lower house of the state legislature, 1798-1804; associate judge, 1804, and comj)tr()Iler general of the state, 1804-16. He represented his district in the state legislature; w^as president of the Sonth Carolina bank, 1817-39; and U. S. district judge, 1828-39. He died in Charleston, S.C, Oct. 24, 1839.

LEE, Thomas Ludwell, statesman, was born in Stafford, Va., Dec. 13, 1730; the second son of Thomas and Hannah (Ludwell) Lee. He was eilucated as a lawyer and practised in Westmore- land county. He was member of the Virginia house of burgesses, and in 1765 signed the West- moreland declaration against the stamp act with his brothers Richard Henry, Francis Lightfoot and Arthur. He was a delegate to the conven- tions of July and December, 1775; a member of the committee of .safety; a delegate to the con- vention of May, 1776; and a member of the com- mittee appointed to draw up a bill of rights and a i)lan for an independent government. He was one of the five " revisers " appointed by the state government on its organization; and judge of the state supreme court. He died April 13. 1777.

LEE, Thomas Sim, governor of Maryland, was born in Prince George's county, Md., Oct. 29, 1745: son of Thomas and Christian (Sim) Lee; grandson of Philip and Sarah (Brooke) Lee, and