RICHARD HENRY LEE

1732-1794

Signer of the Declaration of Independence (Virginia)

Biographical Data
Religious Views
Quotations
References, Links, & Further Reading

Education: educated abroad

Occupation: planter

Political Affiliation: Anti-Administration

Religious Affiliation:

Summary of Religious Views:

Views on Religion & Politics:

Quotations:

"It is true, we are not disposed to differ much, at present, about religion; but when we are making a constitution, it is to be hoped, for ages and millions yet unborn, why not establish the free exercise of religion, as a part of the national compact." -- Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican, IV, 12 October 1787

"The following, I think, will be allowed to be unalienable or fundamental rights in the United States: ?

"No man, demeaning himself peaceably, shall be molested on account of his religion or mode of worship . . . " -- Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican, VI, 25 December 1787

"The qualifications of the representatives are also fixed and designated, and no person under 25 years of age, not an inhabitant of the state, and not having been seven years a citizen of the United States, can be elected; the clear inference is, that all persons 25 years of age, and upwards, inhabitants of the state, and having been, at any period or periods, seven years citizens of the United States, may be elected representatives. They have a right to be elected by the constitution, and the electors have a right to chuse them. This is fixing the federal representation, as to the elected, on a very broad basis: it can be no objection to the elected, that they are Christians, Pagans, Mahometans, or Jews; that they are of any colour, rich or poor, convict or not . . . " -- Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican, XII, 12 January 1788

References, Links, & Further Reading: Books, Articles, Links

Books

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Works by Richard Henry Lee

ed. by James C. Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, 2 vols., Macmillan Co., 1911-1914; Reprint: Da Capo Press, 1970; Vol. I Vol. II

Biographies

Oliver Chitwood, Richard Henry Lee, Statesman of the Revolution, University Library, 1967
John C. Matthews, Richard Henry Lee, The Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission, 1978
J. Kent McGaughy, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia: A Portrait of an American Revolutionary, Rowman & Littlefield, 2003
Harlow Giles Unger, First Founding Father: Richard Henry Lee and the Call to Independence, Da Capo Press, 2017

Articles

Frank Gaylord Cook, "Richard Henry Lee," The Atlantic monthly, Vol. 66, Iss. 393, July 1890, pp. 23-35
Charles L. Goodrich, "Richard Henry Lee," in Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence, 1856

Links

Works by Richard Henry Lee

Documents (Constitutional Sources Project)
Letters from the Federal Farmer [alternate site] (The Online Library of Liberty)
Letter from the Hon. Richard Henry Lee, Esq., One of the Delegates in Congress from the State of Virginia (The Online Library of Liberty)

Biographical Sites

LEE, Richard Henry, 1732-1794 (Biographical Directory of the US Congress)
A Biography of Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794) (Hypertext on American History)
Richard Henry Lee (ushistory.org: Signers of the Declaration of Independence)
Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794) (EncyclopediaVirginia)
Richard Henry Lee (Signers of the Declaration of Independence -- National Park Service)
Richard Henry Lee (Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence)