minded citizen. He fell by the hand of a brutal assassin.-Dwight, 11. 525.

he possessed a catholic, liberal spirit. His learning was united with charity, and the LEE, Samuel, first minister of Bristol, poor were often relieved by his bounty. R. Island, was born in London in 1625, In a manuscript treatise on Rev.xi he exand was the son of Samuel L., an eminent pressed his belief, that the period of 1260 and wealthy citizen, whose estate he in-years would end between 1716, and 1736, herited. At the age of 15 he went for and that the broad wings of the eagle mean his education to Oxford, where he was the eastern & western empire. He publishadmitted to the degree of master of arts ed chronicon Cestrense, an exact chronin 1648. He was soon settled in a fel- ology of all the rulers of Cheshire and lowship in Waldham college, and in 1651 Chester in church and state from the was appointed a proctor of the univer- foundation of the city, 1656; orbis mirsity. He was afterwards preferred by aculum, or the temple of Solomon porCromwell to a church near Bishopsgate trayed by scripture light, folio, 1659; this in London, but was ejected in 1662. He was printed at the charge of the univerwas then a lecturer of great St. Helen's sity; de excidio antichristi, folio, 1659; church in London. After the restoration a sermon on the means to be used for the he was not silenced for nonconformity, conversion of carnal relations, 1661; confor he had no preferment to lose ; but he templations on mortality, 8vo. 1669; a lived for some time in Oxfordshire, oc- sermon on secret prayer, 1674; the viscasionally preaching. In 1678 he re-ibility of the true church, 1675; the trimoved to Newington green near London, umph of mercy in the chariot of praise ; a where he was for several years minister discourse of secret and preventing merof an independent church. His learned cies, 1677; two discourses on the mourntutor, bishop Wilkins, advised him to en-ful state of the church with a prospect of ter the established church ; but his views her dawning glory, 1679; a dissertation of truth and duty would not suffer him to on the ancient and successive state of the do it. Being apprehensive, that the Jews, with scripture evidence of their rights of conscience would soon be further future conversion and establishment in invaded by the return of popery, he in their own land, 1679; this is printed with June 1686 removed to New England, Fletcher's Israel redux; the joy of faith, and preached in the town of Bristol.1689; answer to many queries relative to When a church was formed May 8, America, to its natural productions, dis1687, he was chosen minister. After eases, &c. 1690; the great day of judgthe revolution in his native country, he ment, preached before a court at Bristol, was eagerly desirous of returning. Just 1695. He also wrote a preface to John before he sailed in 1691, he told his wife, Rowe's Immanuel, with his life. His that he had viewed a star, which, accord-Triumph of Mercy was much read ing to the rules of astrology, presaged in N. England; judge Davis says, it is captivity. He was accordingly captured now, with his other works, "lost in oblivby a French privateer, and carried into ion. " But I have a copy in my possesSt. Maloe, in France, where he died sion, printed at Boston, 1718; also a about the time of Christmas in 1691 aged copy of his contemplations on mortality. 64, and was buried without the city as a They display learning and genius.heretic. He was a very learned man, Wood's Ath. Oxonienses, 11 .882, 883; who spoke Latin with elegance, was a Calamy; Nonconform. memorial, 1. 104; master of physic and chemistry, and well Mather, 111, 223; Account of origin of versed in all the liberal arts and sciences. Bristol. He had studied the astrological art, but disapproving of it, he burned a hundred books, which related to the subject. Though a conscientious nonconformist,

LEE, Charles, a major general in the army of the United States, was born in Wales and was the son of John Lee, a colonel in the British service. He enter

ed the army at a very early age; but have been very fond of this application of though he possessed a military spirit, he a test; for in a letter to the president was ardent in the pursuit of knowledge. of congress he informs him, that he had He acquired a competent skill in Greek taken the liberty at Newport to adminisand Latin, while his fondness for travel- ter to a number of the tories a very strong ling made him acquainted with the Italian, oath, one article of which was, that they Spanish, German, and French languages. should take arms in defence of their counIn 1756 he came to America, and was en-try, if called upon by congress, and he gaged in the attack upon Ticonderoga in recommends, that this measure should be July 1758, when Abercrombie was de-adopted in reference to all the tories in feated. In 1762 he bore a colonel's com- America. Those fanatics, who might remission, and served under Burgoyne in fuse to take it he thought should be carPortugal, where he much distinguished ried into the interior. Being sent into himself. Not long afterwards he enter- the southern colonies, as commander of ed into the Polish service. Though he all the forces, which should there be raiwas absent when the stamp act passed, sed, he diffused an ardor among the solhe yet by his letters zealously supported diers, which was attended by the most the cause of America. In the years 1771, salutary consequences. In Oct. by the 1772, and 1773 he rambled over all Eu-direction of congress he repaired to the rope. During this excursion he was northern army. As he was marching engaged with an officer in Italy in an af- from the Hudson through New Jersey fair of honor, and he murdered his antag- to form a junction with Washington in onist, escaping himself with the loss of Pennsylvania, he quitted his camp in two fingers. Having lost the favor of Morris county to reconnoitre. In this the ministry and the hopes of promotion employment he went to the distance of in consequence of his political sentiments, three miles from the camp and entered a he came to America in Nov. 1773. He house for breakfast. A British colonel travelled through the country, animating became acquainted with his situation by the colonies to resistance. In 1774 he intercepting a countryman, charged with was induced by the persuasion of his a letter from him, and was enabled to friend, general Gates, to purchase a valu- take him prisoner. He was instantly able tract of land of two or three thous- mounted on a horse without his cloak and acres in Berkeley county, Virginia. and hat, and carried safely to New York. Here he resided till the following year, He was detained till April or May 1778, when he resigned a commission, which he when he was exchanged for general Presheld in the British service, and accepted cott, taken at Newport. He was very a commission from congress, appointing | soon engaged in the battle of Monmouth. him major general. He accompanied Being detached by the commander in Washington to the camp at Cambridge, where he arrived. July 2, 1775, and was received with every mark of respect. In the beginning of the following year he was despatched to New York to prevent the British from obtaining possession of the city and the Hudson. This trust he executed with great wisdom and energy. He disarmed all suspicious persons on Long Island, and drew up a test to be offered to every one, whose attachment to the American cause was doubted. His bold measures carried terror wherever he appeared. He seems to

chief to make an attack upon the rear of the enemy, Washington was pressing forward to support him June 28th, when to his astonishment he found him retreating without having made a single effort to maintain his ground. Meeting him in these circumstances, without any previ ons notice of his plans, Washington addressed him in terms of some warmth. Lee, being ordered to check the enemy, conducted himself with his usual bravery, and, when forced from the ground, on which he had been placed, brought off his troops in good order. But his haughty

temper could not brook the indignity, where a most troublesome guest. Two which he believed to have been offered or three dogs usually followed him wherhim on the field of battle, and he addres- ever he went. As an officer he was sed a letter to Washington, requiring brave and able, and did much towards reparation for the injury. He was on disciplining the American army. With the 30th arrested for disobedience of or- vigorous powers of mind and a brilliant ders, for misbehavior before the enemy, fancy he was a correct and elegant classiand for disrespect to the commander in cal scholar, and he both wrote and spoke chief. Of these charges he was found his native language with propriety, force, guilty by a court martial, at which lord and beauty. His temper was severe. Stirling presided, and he was sentenced The history of his life is little else than to be suspended for one year. He defen- the history of disputes, quarrels, and duels ded himself with his accustomed ability, in every part of the world. He was vinand his retreat seems to be justified from dictive, avaricious, immoral, impious, and the circumstance of his having advanced profane. His principles, as would be exupon an enemy, whose strength was much pected from his character, were most greater, than was apprehended, and from abandoned, and he ridiculed every tenet his being in a situation, with a morass in of religion. He published about the his rear, which would preclude him from year 1760 a pamphlet on the importance a retreat, if the British should have prov- of retaining Canada. After his death, ed victorious. But his disrespectful let- memoirs of his life, with his essays and ters to the commander in chief it is not letters, were published, 12mo, 1792.easy to justify. His suspension gave gen- Lee's memoirs. eral satisfaction to the army, for he was suspected of aiming himself at the supreme command. After the result of his trial was confirmed by congress in Jan. 1780 he retired to his estate in Berkeley county, where he lived in a style peculiar to himself. Glass windows and plaster would have been extravagances in his house. Though he had for his companions a few select authors and his dogs; yet, as he found his situation too solitary and irksome, he sold his farm in the fall of 1782, that in a different abode he might enjoy the conversation of mankind. He went to Philadelphia and took lodgings in an inn. After being three or four days in the city he was seized with a fever, which terminated his life Oct. 2, 1782. The last words, which he uttered, were, "stand by me, my brave grenadiers."

In his person general Lee was rather above the middle size, and his remarkable aquiline nose rendered his face somewhat disagreeable. He was master of a most genteel address, but was rude in his manners and excessively negligent in his appearance and behavior. His appetite was so whimsical, that he was every

His

LEE, Richard Henry, president of congress, was a native of Virginia, and from his earliest youth devoted his talents to the service of his country. father was Thomas Lee of Stratford, Westmoreland county, and in 1749 president of the council, who died in 1750, leaving 6 sons, all of whom were men of distinction; Philip Ludwell, a member of the council, Thomas Ludwell, a member of the assembly, Richard Henry, Francis Lightfoot, William, and Arthur.Richard Henry was born Jan. 20, 1732. He was educated in a school at Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. He had a seat in the house of burgesses in 1757; but it was only after several years, that he was able to surmount his natural diffidence. His public life was distinguished by some remarkable circumstances. had the honor of originating the first resistance to British oppression in the time of the stamp act in 1765. He proposed in the Virginia house of burgesses in 1773 the formation of a committee of correspondence, whose object was to disseminate information, and to kindle the flame of liberty throughout the continent. He was a member of the first congress, in

He

under the care of Mr. Craig, a domestic tutor. The estate, bequeathed him by his father, was in the county of Loudoun, from which county he was a member of the house of burgesses in 1765. In 1772, having married the daughter of col. John Tayloe of Richmond, he removed to that

In his dis

At

1774, and it was he, who made and ably supported the declaration of independence June 7, 1776. From June 10th till Aug. he was absent from congress on account of the sickness of his family. The second eloquent address to the people of Great Britain was drawn up by him as chairman of the committee. After the adop-county. In 1775 the convention of Virtion of the articles of the confederation he ginia elected him a member of congress, was under the necessity of withdrawing in which body he continued till the spring from congress, as no representative was of 1779. He was one of the signers of allowed to continue in congress more than the declaration of independence. Though three years in any term of six years; but he seldom took part in the public discushe was re-elected in 1784 and continued sions, his patriotic spirit was not less till 1787. It was in Nov. 1784, that he determined, than that of his brother, was chosen president of congress. When Richard Henry Lee. After being called the constitution of the U. S. was submit-again to the legislature of Virginia, he ted to the consideration of the public he withdrew from public life for the quietcontended for the necessity of amend-ness of domestic retirement. ments previously to its adoption. After position he was benevolent; his manthe government was organized, he and ners were courteous; and in his interMr. Grayson were chosen the first sena- course with his friends he was uncomtors from Virginia in 1789. This station monly interesting and instructive. he held till his resignation in 1792, when the approach of death the gospel gave John Taylor was appointed in his place. him consolation and hope. He died of Mr. Lee died at his seat at Chantilly in the pleurisy in April 1797, aged 63, and Westmoreland county Virginia June 19, his wife in a few days afterwards died of 1794, aged 62, By two marriages he left the same disease. many children. He supported through LEE, William, brother of the precelife the character of a philosopher, a patri- | ding, was born about 1737 and was sent ot, and a sage; and he died, as he had to London before the revolution as the lived, blessing his country. A letter, agent of Virginia. Being a zealous whig, which he wrote against Deane, is publish- and a favorite of the livery of London, he ed in the Virginia gazette of Jan. 1, and was elected one of the sheriffs in 1773. the independent chronicle of Feb. 11, During the revolution he was the agent of 1779, and a letter to governor Randolph congress at Vienna and Berlin. respecting the constitution, in the American museum. He is supposed to have been the author of observations leading to a fair examination of the system of government,proposed by the late convention, in letters from the federal farmer to the republican, 1787. His life, with his correspondence, was published by R. H. Lee in 2 vols. 8vo. 1825.-Gazette of U.S. July 8, 1794; Marshall, 11. 180188, 209, 402, 409; Gordon, 11, 274; Warren, 1. 306; Holmes' annals, II. 401; American museum, 11 553–558.

LEE, Arthur, M. D., minister of the United States to the court of Versailles, the youngest brother of the preceding, was born in Virginia Dec. 20, 1740. He was educated at the university of Edinburgh, where he also pursued for some time the study of medicine. On his return to this country he practised physic four or five years in Williamsburg. He then went to London about 1766 and commenced the study of the law in the Temple. At this time he became the intimate friend of Sir William Jones LEE, Francis Lightfoot, a statesman During his residence in England he of Virginia, brother of the preceding, was kept his eye upon the measures. of ..born Oct. 14, 1734. He was educated government, and rendered the most im