- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
LEE, Francis Lightfoot, signer of the Declaration of Independence, born in Westmoreland County, Va., 14 October, 1734; died in Richmond County, Va., 22 January, 1797.
He was educated at home and became a planter and legislator. Lee served in the Virginia House of Burgesses and was a strong advocate for colonial rights. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775 and signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Unlike his brother Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot preferred a quieter role in politics. He retired from public life after the Revolution and lived on his estate, “Menokin,” in Virginia.
He was known for his integrity, modesty, and devotion to liberty. His contributions, though less publicized, were vital to the founding of the republic.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
Founders:
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