Revolutionary War Continental Army Soldier. In August of 1776, then a Sergeant, he volunteered to man the “Marine Turtle”, the one-man submarine invented and built by David Bushnell and his brother Ezra. In an under water attempt that lasted more than two hours, he tried to drill into the hull and fasten a bomb on the 64-gun “HMS Eagle”, flagship of Vice Admiral Richard "Black Dick" Howe, anchored with the British squadron in New York Harbor off Staten Island. However, because of the thickness of the ship’s copper sheathing the mission failed. Nevertheless, General George Washington later congratulated Lee for his courage and employed him on secret service. In 1777 Lee used the “Turtle” again in an attempt to destroy the British frigate “HMS Cerberus”, but was discovered and forced to retreat. Sergeant Lee later participated in the Battles of Trenton, Brandywine and Monmouth. His obituary in the “Commercial Advisor” (November 1821) stated: "Died, at Lyme, on the 29th ult. Captain Ezra Lee, aged 72, a revolutionary officer.—It is not a little remarkable, that this officer is the only man, of which it can be said, that he fought the enemy upon land–upon water–and under the water..."
Revolutionary War Continental Army Soldier. In August of 1776, then a Sergeant, he volunteered to man the “Marine Turtle”, the one-man submarine invented and built by David Bushnell and his brother Ezra. In an under water attempt that lasted more than two hours, he tried to drill into the hull and fasten a bomb on the 64-gun “HMS Eagle”, flagship of Vice Admiral Richard "Black Dick" Howe, anchored with the British squadron in New York Harbor off Staten Island. However, because of the thickness of the ship’s copper sheathing the mission failed. Nevertheless, General George Washington later congratulated Lee for his courage and employed him on secret service. In 1777 Lee used the “Turtle” again in an attempt to destroy the British frigate “HMS Cerberus”, but was discovered and forced to retreat. Sergeant Lee later participated in the Battles of Trenton, Brandywine and Monmouth. His obituary in the “Commercial Advisor” (November 1821) stated: "Died, at Lyme, on the 29th ult. Captain Ezra Lee, aged 72, a revolutionary officer.—It is not a little remarkable, that this officer is the only man, of which it can be said, that he fought the enemy upon land–upon water–and under the water..."
Bio by: Carl W. McBrayer
Family Members
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See more Lee memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
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Connecticut, U.S., Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection)
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Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography, 1600-1889
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Connecticut, U.S., Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934
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The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-1927
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