Light-Horse Harry & Robert E. Lee: The Lees of Leesylvania
Summary
This episode explores the Leesylvania branch of the Virginia Lee family, contrasting their quieter, duty-bound legacy with the more famous Stratford Hall line. Host Will Tanner traces the lineage from Henry Lee I through Henry Lee II, who established the Leesylvania estate, to their revolutionary-era sons, including Light-Horse Harry Lee and Attorney General Charles Lee. The discussion highlights the family’s political influence, such as securing the nation’s capital on the Potomac, and their eventual shift from plantation life to professional careers in law, politics, and the military, cul…
Topics discussed
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Introduction to the Lees of Leesylvania
Origins: Split from Stratford Hall Line
Henry Lee I: Planter and Militia Leader
Plantation Operations: Tobacco, Fish, and Hogs
Passion for Horses and Equestrianism
Henry Lee II: Politics and Revolutionary Hospitality
The Revolutionary Generation: Harry, Charles, and Richard
Decline of the Estate and Move to Alexandria
Sidney Smith Lee: Navy and Civil War Service
Light Horse Harry's Downfall and His Sons
Fitzhugh Lee: Cavalier and Post-War Governor
Conclusion: Legacy of the Leesylvania Lees
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