Henry Lee I

Capt. Henry Lee I (1691–1747) was a prominent Virginia colonist, planter, soldier and bureaucrat. Although today known mostly for his family connections below. Early life The youngest son born to the former Laetitia Corbin (ca. 1657–1706) and her husband Col. Richard Lee II, "the Scholar" (1647–1715) was physically born at Machodoc plantation in Westmoreland County. His merchant paternal grandfather, Col. Richard Lee I, "the Immigrant" (1618–1664) had patented and improved thousands of acres in what became the Northern Neck of Virginia as well as sat on the Governor's Council for the colony, as had his son (this boy's father) and as would his slightly older brother, Thomas Lee (1690–1750). His maternal grandfather Henry Corbin was similarly influential in commerce and politics, also part of what would later be called the First Families of Virginia. However, when their father died, his eldest brother, Richard Lee III(1679–1718) was in England immersed in financial troubles of the mercantile firm Corbin and Lee, and the next-eldest son Philip Lee (1681–1744) lived in Maryland where he operated plantations as well participated in local politics. Since their middle brother Dr. Francis Lee seemed disinclined toward both politics and commerce, in 1712 their father had begun grooming Thomas to handle the political and financial end of the family business. Meanwhile, Henry received an education appropriate to his class, including when he was nine years old and Thomas ten, beginning studies at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. Career Upon coming of age, Henry Lee inherited land in what became Prince William County (his son Henry Lee II would later develop some of this property as Leesylvania plantation.