FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE.
The fourth son of Thomas and Hannah (Ludwell) Lee, was born October
14, 1734, in Westmoreland county, province of Virginia, and was
named Francis Lightfoot Lee. He received his education at home under
the tuition of a Scotch clergyman named Craig, and having at his command
a valuable library collected by his father, afterward the property of
the oldest son of the family, Philip.
About the time he reached manhood his three older brothers, Philip,
Thomas and Richard Henry, returned from abroad, where they had been
educated, and in their society he attained that polish and refinement of
manner which was in after life one of his distinguishing characteristics.
In 1765, Francis Lightfoot Lee took his seat in the House of Burgesses,
as member from Loudoun county, in which county he was possessed of a
considerable estate. He continued a member of the House for Loudoun
county until 1772. In that year he married Rebecca, second daughter of
Colonel John Tayloe, of Richmond county, and took up his residence in
that county. In the same year he was returned to the House of Burgesses
for Richmond county.
August 15, 1775, the convention of Virginia elected him to a seat in the
Continental Congress, which position he filled so as to receive three successive
re-elections: June 20, 1776; May 22, 1777; May 29, 1778.
His work in Congress, faithfully performed, was not of the brilliant
character of his elder brother's work, as he was no orator. But when
future generations remember the name of Richard Henry Lee, as that of
the gallant Virginian whose voice was first raised in advocacy of our independence,
it will not be forgotten that among the devoted sons of that State
who supported his position was one, his brother in blood, and his colleague in
principle, Francis Lightfoot Lee.
In the spring of 1779, Mr. Lee retired from Congress, and was immediately
elected to the Senate of Virginia under the new constitution of that
State. He did not long remain in public life, however, all his inclinations
being toward home life and rural occupations, and the state of the
country no longer demanding from him the sacrifice of his private tastes.
Reading, farming, and the entertainment of friends and neighbors filled
his remaining days with quiet happiness, until his death, which occurred
in April, 1797. His beloved wife died within a few days of his own
demise, and they left no children.
![illustration](https://iiif.lib.virginia.edu/iiif/uva-lib:402166/full/!1600,1600/0/default.jpg")
