Name Richard Lee | ||
Richard Lee (1726–1795), known most commonly as "Squire", was a prominent Virginian colonist, and American politician, who was active in the American Revolutionary War.
Contents
Family
He was born at "Lee Hall" in Westmoreland County, Virginia, the third of seven children born to Henry Lee I (1691–1747) and Mary Bland (1704–1764). Through his father's brother, Thomas 1690-1750, he was the first cousin of Revolutionary War hero's Henry Lee and “Light Horse Harry” Lee both signers of the Declaration of Independence.
In 1786, at the age of 60, he married 17-year-old Sarah Bland "Sally" Poythress (1768-24 May 1828), a daughter of Peter Poythress (1715–1785) of "Branchester" and Elizabeth Bland (1733–1792). The couple had 5 children;
- Richard Lee II (1788–1790)
- Mary Lee (12 February 1790 – 1848)
- Lettice Lee (1792–1827)
- an son who died in infancy (c. 1793)
- Richardia (b. 1795)
Great uncle of Robert E Lee
After his death, Sally married secondly Willoughby Newton and was the mother of Willoughby Newton.
Career
Squire served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, as a representative from Westmoreland, for the years 1757-1758, 1762, 1769, 1772, & 1774. The House of Burgesses became the Virginia House of Delegates in 1776, due to the outbreak of the war, and Richard served there during the years 1777, 1780, 1784–1787, 1790 & 1793.
He was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1775-1776, which drafted the 1776 version of the Constitution of Virginia. He later served as Justice of the Peace for Westmoreland County, Virginia and was a Naval Officer for the Port of Potomac.