FRANCIS
LIGHTFOOT LEE was born in Loudoun County, Virginia on October 14,
1734.He was the fourth son of
Thomas Lee and by the order of his birth, Francis did not enjoy all the
advantages his father endowed on his older brothers, who were sent to England
for their education.He was educated
at home by a tutor named Craig, under whose care he rapidly acquired an
appreciation of reading, science and literature.Lee's
father's fortune made the study of a profession unnecessary and from his early
years "was addicted more to pleasure than business".Yet
he did serve for a decade in the House of Burgesses, and although usually quiet
and reserved, he did show his strong resistance to the British after the Stamp
Act – all the while insisting, "What damned dirty work is this
politics!"
Francis
Lightfoot Lee married in 1772 when he was thirty-five.His
wife, Rebecca Tayloe was a daughter of Colonel John Tayloe, and they moved to a
plantation in Richmond County, Virginia, where his wife had been reared.In
1775, at the age of forty-one, he was sent to Congress where he sat silently
creating neither flurry nor argument.Still,
those who were in his company were impressed by his voting and by his private
conversations."I thought he
possessed," said one member, "a more accurate and correct mind than
his brother, Richard.I never knew
him wrong eventually upon any question.He
often opposed his brother's vote, but never spoke actively on the floor of
Congress."
Francis
Lightfoot Lee came to Congress and cast his vote for freedom without anxiety or
worry about the future of independence in America."Let
us, my dear friend, do the best we can for the good of our country, and leave
the event to fate."Francis
Lightfoot Lee was not flamboyant, boisterous or obtrusive – but rather a
"gentleman" a steady, firm supporter of the Declaration of
Independence.
Lee
retired from Congress in 1779, desiring to return to the pleasures and comforts
of his home.However, he was not
permitted to enjoy his retirement for long.He
was elected to the Virginia legislature and although reluctantly, he took his
seat and fulfilled his obligations.He
was characterized for his integrity, sound judgment and his love of his country.He
was not content for long however, and relinquished the duties of public life to
enjoy his retirement.
Lee
had no children that required his care and attention so he devoted much of his
time to the pleasures of reading, farming and the company of his friends.He
had suffered occasionally from pleurisy and on April 3, 1797 at the age of
sixty-three he died from it.His
wife also became infected and she died within a few days of her husband.
We invite you to read a transcription
of the complete text of the Declaration as presented by the National Archives.
&
The article "The
Declaration of Independence: A History,"
which provides a detailed account of the Declaration, from its drafting through
its preservation today at the National Archives.
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