Francis Lightfoot Lee | |
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| Delegate to theContinental Congress fromVirginia | |
| In office 1774–1779 | |
| Member of theVirginia Senate | |
| In office 1778–1782 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1734-10-14)October 14, 1734 Stratford Hall Plantation,Westmoreland County,Virginia Colony |
| Died | January 11, 1797(1797-01-11) (aged 62) Menokin Plantation,Richmond County, Virginia |
| Resting place | Mount Airy, Tayloe Family Estate, Warsaw, Richmond County |
| Parent(s) | Thomas Lee Hannah Harrison Ludwell |
| Signature |  |
Francis Lightfoot Lee (October 14, 1734 – January 11, 1797) was aFounding Father of the United States and a member of theHouse of Burgesses in theColony of Virginia.[1] As an active protester regarding issues such as theStamp Act of 1765, Lee helped move the colony in the direction of independence fromBritain. Lee was a delegate to theVirginia Conventions and theContinental Congress. He was a signer of theDeclaration of Independence andArticles of Confederation as a representative ofVirginia. In addition to his career in politics, Lee owned a tobaccoplantation as well as manyslaves.[2] He was a member of theLee family, a prominent Virginian dynasty.
Lee was born on October 14, 1734, atStratford Hall Plantation, in Westmoreland County, Virginia.[3] Lee was the fourth son ofThomas Lee andHannah Harrison Ludwell. His middle name "Lightfoot" came from Francis Lightfoot, thebest man at his father's wedding.[4] He was of English descent and was born into one of theFirst Families of Virginia. He grew up atStratford Hall, a large tobacco plantation,[5] which his father completed in 1738. He was educated at home, where Lee pursued classical studies under Dr. Craig.
In 1772, Lee married his cousin, Rebecca Plater Tayloe. They were 2nd cousins, once removed. They had no children. Lee lived his entire life in the region of Virginia between theRappahannock River and theChesapeake Bay (known as theNorthern Neck).
Lee was the grandson of Col.Richard Lee II and a great-grandson of Col.Richard Lee I. SenatorRichard Henry Lee and diplomatsWilliam Lee andDr. Arthur Lee were his brothers. Another brother,Thomas Ludwell Lee, was appointed to a committee, along withThomas Jefferson, to re-write the laws of Virginia. His namesake Francis Lightfoot Lee II was the son of his brotherRichard Henry Lee, and men of the same name descend from him.
In 1774, Lee was among those who called for a general congress and the first of the Virginia Conventions, which he attended. He served in theVirginia State Senate from 1778 to 1782 and was a delegate to theFirst Continental Congress held inPhiladelphia, serving until 1779. As a congressional representative of Virginia, he signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. He was elected to theAmerican Philosophical Society in 1768.[6] In 1793, he ran to representVirginia's 19th congressional district in theU.S. House of Representatives.[7]
Lee died ofpleurisy at his residence (named "Menokin") inRichmond County, Virginia, on January 11, 1797, following his wife's death four days prior. He is buried in the Tayloe family burial ground atMount Airy Plantation, nearWarsaw, Virginia.[8]
TheWorld War IILiberty ShipSS Francis L. Lee was named in his honor.
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