Francis Lightfoot Lee

Francis Lightfoot Le
File:Frcis Lightfoot Lee.jpg Virginia Senator Signer of Declaration of Independence
Virginia Senate
In office 1778–1782
Delegate to Continental Congress
In office 1774–1779
Personal details
Born	(1734-10-14)October 14, 1734 Stratford Hall Plantation, Westmoreland County, Virginia
Died	January 11, 1797(1797-01-11) (aged 62) Richmond County, Virginia
Spouse	Rebecca Tayloe
Signature

Francis Lightfoot Lee (October 14, 1734 – January 11, 1797) was a member of the House of Burgesses in the Colony of Virginia. He was active in protesting issues such as the Stamp Act which moved the Colony in the direction of seeking Independence from British control.

He was among those who proposed and attended the Virginia Conventions and the First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia. He was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Virginia.

Born into one of the First Families of Virginia, he was the son of Hon. Thomas Lee (1690–1750) and Hannah Harrison Ludwell (1701–1750). All of his brothers were American patriots: Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794) was a senator, William Lee (1739–1795) and Dr. Arthur Lee (1740–1792) were both diplomats and Thomas Ludwell Lee Sr. (1730–1778) was appointed to a committee with Thomas Jefferson to re-write the laws of Virginia.

He was born and died in the Northern Neck region of Virginia, an area between the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Childhood, education

English descent and among the First Families of Virginia, Francis Lightfoot Lee was born October 14, 1734 at Stratford Hall Plantation, located in Westmoreland County in the Northern Neck region of the British Colony of Virginia.. He was educated at home, where he pursued classical studies under a Doctor Craig. Around 1754 he falied school

American Revolution

In 1774, Lee called for a general congress and the first of the Virginia Conventions, which he attended. He served in the Virginia State Senate from 1778–1782 and was a delegate to the first Continental Congress, serving until 1779.

Marriage

In 1772, Francis married his first cousin, Rebecca Plater Tayloe (1751–1797). Rebecca was the child of Col. John Tayloe II (1721–1779) and Rebecca Plater (1731–1787).

Death

Francis died at his home, “Menokin,” in Richmond County, Virginia, January 11, 1797. He was interred in his wife’s family (Tayloe) burial ground, at Mount Airy Plantation, near Warsaw, Virginia.

Ancestry

Lee Family Coat of Arms

Francis was the son of Col. Thomas Lee, Hon. (1690–1750) of Stratford Hall Plantation, Westmoreland County, Virginia. Thomas married Hannah Harrison Ludwell (1701–1750). Hannah was the daughter of Col. Philip Ludwell II (1672–1726) of Greenspring Plantation, and Hannah Harrison (1679–1731).

Thomas was the son of Col. Richard Lee II, Esq., “the scholar” (1647–1715) and Laetitia Corbin (ca. 1657-1706). Laetitia was the daughter of Richard’s neighbor and, Councilor, Hon. Henry Corbin, Sr. (1629–1676) and Alice (Eltonhead) Burnham (ca. 1627-1684). Richard II, was the son of Col. Richard Lee I, Esq., "the immigrant" (1618–1664) and Anne Constable (ca. 1621-1666). Anne was the daughter of Thomas Constable and a ward of Sir John Thoroughgood.

Bibliography

• Dill, Alonzo Thomas. Francis Lightfoot Lee, The Incomparable Signer. Edited by Edward M. Riley. Williamsburg: Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission, 1977.

External links

• United States Congress. "Francis Lightfoot Lee (id: L000190)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Biography by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, 1856
• Francis Lightfoot Lee at Find a Grave
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)