Henry Lee For other people named Henry Lee, see Henry Lee (disambiguation). Henry Lee III (January 29, 1756 - March 25, 1818), 18th century American general, called Light Horse Harry, was born near Dumfries, Virginia. His father was first cousin to Richard Henry Lee, sixth President of the Continental Congress. His mother was an aunt of the wife of Virginia Governor Thomas Nelson Jr. With a view to a legal career, he graduated (1773) at Princeton, but, soon afterwards, on the outbreak of the War of Independence, he became an officer in the patriot forces.
