U.S. Congressman. He was born in Leesylvania and was the third son of Henry Lee, II of Leesylvania, Virginia. He was the first Congressman from Northern Virginia. His brother was Lighthorse Harry Lee, Revolutionary War Officer, Virginia Governor, and father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. He studied at private schools and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1781. He settled on part of his father's land holdings in what is now western Fairfax County, Virginia. After his father's death, he inherited the land and built a large frame house and called his estate Sully. Lee was a member of the State House of Delegates (1784-1788), elected to the First, Second, and Third Congresses (1789-1795), member of the State House of Delegates (1796-1806), and moved to Washington, D.C. about 1815. During his term, he help convince Congress to locate the Nation's Capital in Washington, D.C. President Madison appointed him a commissioner in 1816 to adjudicate claims arising out of the loss and destruction of property during the War of 1812. He was appointed by President Monroe in 1819 as a Judge in the Orphans' Court of the District of Columbia and served in that capacity until his death. He is buried at his Sully Estate, but originally was buried the Congressional Cemetery, in Washington, D. C but was moved in 1978 to his estate. There is no marker at the original site. Also relocated to the Sully site was his wife, the former Elizabeth Collins, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who he married on June 20, 1794.
U.S. Congressman. He was born in Leesylvania and was the third son of Henry Lee, II of Leesylvania, Virginia. He was the first Congressman from Northern Virginia. His brother was Lighthorse Harry Lee, Revolutionary War Officer, Virginia Governor, and father of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. He studied at private schools and graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1781. He settled on part of his father's land holdings in what is now western Fairfax County, Virginia. After his father's death, he inherited the land and built a large frame house and called his estate Sully. Lee was a member of the State House of Delegates (1784-1788), elected to the First, Second, and Third Congresses (1789-1795), member of the State House of Delegates (1796-1806), and moved to Washington, D.C. about 1815. During his term, he help convince Congress to locate the Nation's Capital in Washington, D.C. President Madison appointed him a commissioner in 1816 to adjudicate claims arising out of the loss and destruction of property during the War of 1812. He was appointed by President Monroe in 1819 as a Judge in the Orphans' Court of the District of Columbia and served in that capacity until his death. He is buried at his Sully Estate, but originally was buried the Congressional Cemetery, in Washington, D. C but was moved in 1978 to his estate. There is no marker at the original site. Also relocated to the Sully site was his wife, the former Elizabeth Collins, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who he married on June 20, 1794.
Bio by: Janet Greentree
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