Robert Edward Lee, born January 19, 1807, at his family's plantation (Stratford) in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was destined for greatness. Through his father, General Henry Lee, the celebrated "Light Horse Harry" of Revolutionary War fame, and his mother, Ann Hill Carter, he was a member of two of the most distinguished families of early America.
Lee entered West Point in 1825. When he graduated four years later, he was cadet corp adjutant, head of his class in tactics and artillery and second in general standing. He also graduated without receiving a single demerit. By the time of his commissioning, Lee had developed traits of character which would distinguish him from his contemporaries and make him a legend after his death. Of these traits, moderation, self control, duty, sincerity, consideration of others, courage, special regard for ladies, courtesy, honor and deep religious conviction, he believed duty and honor to be especially important. Lee once stated, "There is true glory and true honor, the glory of duty done and the honor of integrity and principles." He also wrote, "Duty is the sublimest word in the language. You cannot do more than your duty; you nver wish to do less."
In 1831, he married Mary Custis, great-granddaughter of Martha Washington. For the next thirty years, Arlington was Lee's beloved home. Lee had three sons and four daughters. Lee had a celebrated military career.
In the summer of 1865, the Board of Trustees of Washington College in Lexington, VA, voted unanimously to offer the college presidency to Lee. One of Lee's mosted noted statements to his students was, "We have but one rule here and that is that every student must be a gentleman."
Lee died in the President's House at Washington College (later to be name Washington and Lee College) on October 12, 1870.
-taken from the Varlet
Copyright 1996 Kappa Alpha Order