Richard Henry Lee Essay

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Richard Henry Lee was born on January 20th, 1732 AD. He grew up in Westmoreland Virginia and was raised by a line of military men, legislators, and diplomats. His father was the governor of Virginia until 1750. Richard learned a lot of skills from his father like how to work and be tough and also how politics worked. Richard Henry Lee had a great career. In 1757, Lee was appointed “Justice of the Peace” in Westmoreland County. He then moved on in 1758 and was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first assembly elected in North America. Lee was only 26 year olds when he was elected. Richard Henry Lee is credited for having authored the Westmoreland Resolution which was signed by prominent landowners …show more content…

These committees were set up to coordinate the efforts of the colonies against the British. The committees directly led to the forming of the First Continental Congress, with Virginia appointing Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, and George Washington. On September 5, 1774, these men with others such as John Jay and John Adams met in Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia for the first meeting of the Continental Congress.” (Taken from Richard Henry Lee Biography). Lee was a fighter and kept pushing for this to pass. Finally on June 7, 1776 he stood up in congress and uttered a resolution that would forever change the course of American History. “Resolved: that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be totally dissolved. This resolution set a chain of events into action that would lead to the writing of the Declaration of Independence and finally to the adoption of it, and American Independence on July 4, 1776. Lee was a big advocate for American Independence and worked a majority of his life for some of the rights that we have today. In 1789-1792, Lee served as a Senator for Virginia. He then passed away in 1794. Richard Henry Lee performed a very important role in American