Robert E. Lee

  General Notes:

was born on 19 Jan 1807 in Stratford Hall, Virginia, died on 12 Oct 1870 in Lexington, Virginia at age 63, and was buried in Washington And Lee University Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia.

General Notes: CSA General Robert E. Lee, eventually becoming the general in charge of all Confederate forces.

Robert E. Lee was born 1807 in Virginia, the son of Light Horse Harry Lee, famous for his conduct in the Southern Campaign in the Revolutionary War. (Guilford Courthouse, Battle of - - District 96 campaign)

Robert E. Lee was educated at West Point graduating in 1827 second in his class. Eventually he was appointed Superintendent of the Military Academy at West Point. He was commanding in Texas in 1860. Later he was offered command of the Union forces by Lincoln but declined, remaining loyal to Virginia although it is reported that he was not favorably disposed to the secession movement. Midway into the war, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy appointed Lee commander of all CSA military forces.

________________________________

ROBERT EDWARD LEE was born January 19, 1807 to Light Horse Harry and Ann Carter. He was the last of the Lees born at Stratford Hall to reach maturity. He lived there for only four years. His father, Light Horse Harry Lee died when he was eleven years old.

Robert E. Lee's decision to enter West Point was one of poor finances, he had no money. He wanted to attend Harvard. He entered West Point at age eighteen. At West Point he graduated second in his class having not received a single demerit during his four years, a notable achievement. By June 30, 1831 he was serving at Fort Monroe, Virginia as a Second Lieutenant. There he married Mary Ann Custis of Arlington. She was an only daughter of George Washington Parke Custis, the grandson of Martha Washington, the adopted daughter of George Washington. The couple moved into Arlington, the Custis house across the Potomac from Washington D. C.

He was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1836, Captain in 1838. He was wounded in the storming of Chapultepec in 1847. He became Superintendent of the U. S. Military Academy and was later appointed Colonel of Cavalry. He was in command of Texas by 1860. On the eve of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln offered him command of the Union Army, and while he was opposed to secession and slavery, Virginia had the stronger pull. He resigned his commission in the U. S. Army three days after Virginia withdrew from the Union.

Robert married Mary Anne Randolph Custis [12906] [MRIN: 4294] on 30 Jun 1831 in Arlington, Virginia. Mary was born on 1 Oct 1808 in Arlington, Virginia and died on 5 Nov 1873 in Lexington, Virginia at age 65.

General Notes: Known as "Molly".

Robert married Mary Ann Randolph Custis, daughter of George Washington Parke Custis and Mary Lee Fitzhugh.