Most people haven't heard of this extraordinary and influential American patriot. If they have, they often get him confused with his descendent, Robert E. Lee. Or, they may only know him from the musical, “1776,” where the character of Richard Henry Lee has a rousing solo song (done on horseback in the movie version). He is portrayed as a flamboyant, happy go lucky kind of guy with a personality as big as North America itself in the play, and the real Richard Henry Lee was no doubt a good guy. However, he is so much more than a caricature. Here is the story of the real Richard Henry Lee, and his importance to the American Revolution.

Richard Henry Lee (January 20, 1732 – June 19, 1794) was the son of Colonel Thomas Lee and Hannah Harrison Ludwell, members of the influential Lee family of the colony of Virginia. His immediate ancestors were all military officers, legislators, and diplomats, and the family had plenty of money to live comfortably by 18th century standards (and even by standards in some places in the world today). Lee’s father was the governor of Virginia for a time. And, Lee himself was schooled by the finest private tutors. As a young adolescent, his father sent Richard around to visit all of the neighboring farmers and plantation owners of prominence, because he wanted his son to become acquainted with these influential, well-connected men at a young age, so they would know and respect him as an adult, when those connections would be important for Richard’s advancement in society...​​​​​​​​​​​​​​