LE CONTE 



3365 



LEE 



Lecompton Constitution was again rejected in 

 August, 1858, and in the following year an anti- 

 slavery constitution was adopted. See KAN- 

 SAS, subhead History. 



LE CONTE, lekont' , JOSEPH (1823-1901), an 

 American scientist and teacher, known in two 

 hemispheres for his work in popularizing geol- 

 ogy. He was born in Liberty County, Georgia, 

 became the pupil of Agassiz in 1850 at Har- 

 vard University, and accompanied him on a 

 scientific expedition to Florida. His most ac- 

 tive scientific career began in 1868, when he 

 was called to the University of California as 

 professor of geology. He made contributions 

 to geology and zoology, and wrote a great 

 many papers and books on the theory of evo- 

 lution and the relations of science to religion. 

 Among his works are Religion and Science; 

 Elements of Geology; Compend of Geology; 

 Evolution: Its Nature, Its Evidence and Its 

 Relation to Religious Thought. 



LEE, CHARLES (1731-1782), an American 

 military officer whose inglorious record during 

 the Revolutionary War culminated in his dis- 

 missal from the service, following his court- 

 martial for misconduct at the Battle of Mon- 

 mouth (see MONMOUTH, BATTLE OF). He was 

 born in England and served in the British 

 army before he joined the colonial forces, be- 

 ing one of Braddock's officers in the disastrous 

 expedition against Fort Duquesne (which see). 

 Two years before the opening of the Revolu- 

 tion he emigrated to America, joined with the 

 patriots in their struggle against Britain, and 

 in 1775 was appointed senior major-general, 

 next in rank to Washington. The following 

 year, while in command of the Southern De- 

 partment, he was given credit for the brilliant 

 defense of Charleston, S. C., though the honors 

 fell properly to William Moultrie (which see). 

 From this -time on Lee was a hindrance, 

 rather than an aid, to Washington. By refus- 

 ing to attack the left wing of the British, at 

 the Battle of Monmouth (1778), as commanded 

 by his superior officer, he almost caused the 

 utter rout of the Americans, Washington's 

 timely arrival being the only thing that saved 

 the day. Court-martialed for disobedience, he 

 was suspended from his command for a year, 

 and soon after was dismissed from the army 

 for writing a disrespectful letter to Congress. 

 LEE, HENRY (1756-1818), an American sol- 

 dier and statesman of the Revolutionary pe- 

 riod, whose activity in scouting and outpost 

 duty won him the name of LIGHT-HORSE HARRY. 

 He also was the originator of the well-known 



phrase, "First in war, first in peace, first in the 

 hearts of his countrymen," spoken by him in 

 a funeral oration delivered before Congress 

 after the death of Washington. 



Henry Lee, who belonged to the famous Lee 

 family of Virginia, was graduated from Prince- 

 ton College two years before the colonies and 

 the mother country began hostilities, and soon 

 after the outbreak of the war he offered his 

 services in behalf of the American cause. For 

 three years after 1777 he was one of the most 

 efficient scouts in the army, and in 1779 fig- 

 ured in a daring exploit, the surprise and cap- 

 ture of the British post at Paulus Hook, that 

 won him the thanks of Congress. In 1780, 

 having attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel, 

 he led his band of cavalry troops, the famous 

 "Lee's Legion," into the South. There his 

 horsemen formed the rear guard of the Ameri- 

 can forces during General Greene's retreat 

 through the Carolinas, and highly distinguished 

 themselves at the Battle of Eutaw Springs. 



After the war Lee turned his attention to 

 politics. He was a delegate to the Continental 

 Congress and to the Virginia convention which 

 ratified the Federal Constitution, served as 

 governor of Virginia from 1792 until 1795, and 

 while holding the latter position took charge 

 of the troops sent by President Washington 

 in 1794 to crush the Whisky Insurrection 

 (which see). In 1799 he entered Congress, re- 

 tiring to private life in 1801. Shortly after 

 the outbreak of the War of 1812 he was ap- 

 pointed major-general, but before he could 

 resume his military duties he received a severe 

 wound while helping to quell a political riot 

 in Baltimore. From the effects of this injury 

 he never recovered. 



LEE, RICHARD 

 HENRY (1732- 

 1794), a states- 

 man and patriot 

 of the Colonial 

 and Revolution- 

 ary period, who 

 won fame as the 

 author of the 

 resolution which 

 led to the adop- 

 tion of the Dec- 

 laration of Inde- 

 pendence (which 

 see). He was 



RICHARD HENRY LEE 



born at Stratford, Va., and was educated in 

 England. From the beginning of the struggle 

 against 'Great Britain he was actively in sym- 



