Lee, Charles (1731-1782)

Name:

Lee, Charles (1731-1782)

Title:

Ensign, 55th/44th Regiment of Foot, 1746
Leiutennant, 44th Regiment of Foot, 1751
Captain, 44th Regiment of Foot, 1756
Major, 103rd Foot c1761
Lt. Colonel, Portuguese Army, 1762
Major General, Polish Army, 1765/1769
Lt. Colonel, British Army, 1772 (inactive)
Major General, Continental Army (1775)
Fort Constitution renamed Fort Lee in his honor (1776)

Born:

02/06/1732

Birthplace:

Cheshire, England

Died:

10/02/1782

Death Location:

Philidelphia, PA

Residence:

Cheshire, England
Switzerland
Poland
Virginia Colony
Philidelphia, PA

Nationality:

English

Occupation:

Soldier

Father:

Lee, General John

Mother:

Bunbury, Isabella

Relations:

King Stanislaus II - aide de camp
George Washington

Spouse:

Name unknown (dau. of Mohawk chief)

Children:

Twins, names unknown

Notes:

Educated in Switzerland and England.
Father purchased him a commission in his regiment at age 14.
Fought in French and Indian War under Major General Braddock.
Missed Battle of the Wilderness (07/09/1755).
Known to Mohawks as Ounewaterika (Boiling Water)
Louisburg Expedition, 1757.
Wounded at Battle of Carillon, 1758.
Capture of Fort Niagara, 1759.
Capture of Montreal, 1760.
Fought against Spanish invasion of Portugal in Portugeese army, 1762.
Distinguished himself at Battle of Vila Velha (10/05/1762) destroying Spanish artillery stores.
Returned to England 1763.
Unit disbanded, retired as major.
Aide-de-camp to King Stanislaus II of Poland, 1765.
Fought for Poland in Russo-Turkish War (1769).
Sympathetic to American Colonies.
Moved to Virginia colony in 1773.
Bought estate in 1774, near present-day Leetown, WV.
Volunteered services to Colonies, disappointed not to be named Commander-in-Chief.
Unnofficial second in command of Continental Army.
Popular amongst army and congress.
Captured by British 12/13/1776, near Basking Ridge, NJ.
Exchanged for General Richard Prescott.
Participated in Battle of Monmouth (06/28/1778), court martialed and relieved for insubordination to Washington.
Attempted to get Congress to overturn the court martial, failed.
Wounded in duel with Colonel John Laurens.
Released from duty, 01/10/1780. Retired to Philidelphia.