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General Charles Lee Birth: February 6th, 1732, Cheshire England Death: October 2nd, 1782 Vocation: Military Allegiance: Britain, American Colonies Accomplishments: Accomplished soldier and rank of general achieved Charles Lee was born on February 6th, 1732 in Cheshire, England to General John Lee and Isabella Bunbury. He was educated in Switzerland and England. His father secured him a commission in the 55th foot. He became a lieutenant in 1751. He was sent to America in 1754 and fought in the French and Indian war under Major General Braddock, although he has not present for the failed Braddock expedition. He reportedly married the daughter of a Mohawk Chief who bore him twins. Lee became a captain in 1756. As part of a larger strategy, the British began a sustained effort to remove French control of fortification along primary waterways. In 1757, he took part in a successful expedition against the fortress at Loisbourg. In 1758, he was wounded in an attack against Fort Ticonderoga. He helped capture Fort Niagara in 1759.He then participated in action in Montreal in 1760.

After the Seven Years War, Lee's unit was disbanded and he was discharged as a major. Unable to advance his military career in the British military, Lee fought in Poland, serving King Stanislaus II. At one point during these years he lost two fingers in a duel. In 1773, Lee purchased land in what is now West Virginia and established an estate which he named Prato Rio. As it became obvious that the American colonies would revolt, Lee offered his services. He hoped to be named commander-in-chief of the colonial forces because of all of his military experience, but his foul mouth, sloppy appearance, arrogance, and the fact that he was English born and expected to be paid counted against him. Instead, George Washington a Virginia planter, surveyor, and military man was chosen as overall commander.

While Lee was an experienced and skilled commander, his attitude became a problem. The colonial forces were in a constant state of defeat and retreat all of 1776. Lee began writing letters to members of the Continental Congress and other people of influence blaming Washington for everything. The letter writing got in the way of Lee's doing his job. After Washington retreated from New York he asked Lee to bring his troops and rendezvous with Washington. Lee was very slow to respond to Washington's requests, as if he was trying to make Washington look bad. During the retreat, Lee spent the night at an inn in order to write more letters. The next morning two dozen mounted British soldiers, captured him as he sat in his dressing gown writing letters. While imprisoned by General Howe, Lee offered information to the British and wrote a plan for them to campaign against colonial forces. Unaware of this treachery, Washington exchanged captured General Richard Prescott for Lee.

During the winter of 1777 and 1778 the many of the continental regulars were retrained by Baron von Steuben. Washington was eager to test his improved army. In May 1778 Washington got his chance when British commander, General Clinton, was ordered to evacuate Philadelphia and move his troops to New York. Several of Washington's officers, including Lee, were not in favor of a direct attack against the British but Washington was insistent. The plan was that an advance unit would engage the British rear guard to slow the retreat down and hopefully draw the larger British forces into a fight, then the main American force would attack. As the senior officer, Lee was offered the command of the advance force but turned it down. He changed his mind when the size of the force was increased and the attack was offered to the Marquis de Lafayette instead. Lee never gave clear orders to his men and when Lord Cornwallis did counterattack lee ordered a retreat. Washington was advancing with his force and was shocked to see the retreat. He rode to the front and confronted Lee. Lee responded with inappropriate language and was relived of command. Washington sent him to the rear and took charge of the battle. The battle is considered a moral victory for the colonials because it finally demonstrated that they could go musket to musket with British regulars.

Lee was court-martialed. He tried to have Congress overturn the court-martial but they would not. He now found himself challenged to multiple duels because he was publicly disparaging Washington. He was discharged from service on January 10, 1780. He retired to Philadelphia, where he died in October of 1782.