Robert E Lee Life Summary

Words: 681
Pages: 3

Shea Thompson
Kenneth Wilkerson
American History
02/12/18
Robert E. Lee: A Life Summary
Robert Edward Lee was born at Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia on January 9th, 1807. However, due to speculation and his journals, it is possible he could have been born the year before. He was born to Major General Henry Lee III, who was also the governor of Virginia at the time, and Anne Hill Carter. During his early childhood, his father was wounded in Baltimore during a political riot and subsequently died when Lee was only eleven years old. He lived with his mother and five siblings and was supported by a male relative for the next few years. At the age of eighteen, Lee was admitted into West Point, but had to wait a year to begin his studies due to the large number of recruits that had been accepted. He finished second in his class and had attained a perfect record of behavior during his time there. Lee was awarded the title of Second Lieutenant. When he left the academy, he arrived home to his mother on her deathbed. She died soon after on July 26, 1829 at Ravensworth.
Shortly after the death of his mother, Robert Edward Lee found himself being shipped from one state to another by order of Brigadier General
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He was soon faced with the American Civil War. After an offer from Abraham Lincoln to command the Union, Lee resigned from the United States Army and was vehemently against the Confederate States of America forming because he did not support a revolution. His home state of Virginia voted to secede, and Lee reluctantly agreed to lead them shortly after. He fought well during the war, but the South eventually succumbed to the North. He was pardoned by Lincoln and Grant and avoided being hanged for treason. He returned to his family in 1865 and lived a happy life with his family and friends until dying from a massive stroke in