Lee, Richard Henry

Richard Henry (1732-1794), an American patriot. He was a native of Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was educated in England. On his return he became prominent in colonial affairs. In 1773 he was made a member of a committee to communicate with the other colonies relative to plans for common defense. He was a delegate to the first Continental Congress. He drafted the petition presented by that body to the king. He sat also in the second Congress, and was the mover of the famous resolutions that led to the Declaration of Independence. They should be familiar to every schoolboy. He moved 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 connection between them and the states of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." He served continuously, either in the legislature of his native state, or in Congress. He was not pleased with the Federal Constitution, but was one of the first two senators sent by Virginia to the Congress.